MLB Notebook: Bobby Dalbec back in Boston, Caleb Hamilton 'elite framer' and more

Bobby Dalbec thought he might not ever get another chance with the Red Sox. The slugger has been tearing up Triple-A pitching for the WooSox and, due to an injury to Pablo Reyes, Dalbec has another opportunity in the bigs.

Dalbec pinch ran for Justin Turner in the bottom of the ninth during Saturday’s 5-4 loss to the White Sox. 

The 27-year-old has mashed with the WooSox batting .296 with a 1.051 OPS, 18 homers, nine doubles, two triples, 48 runs and 42 RBI in 54 games. While with the WooSox, Dalbec has hit some tape-measure homers, including a 515-foot blast that hit the red duck boat out in deep center field. 

It’s unclear whether or not Dalbec has asked for a trade in order to get regular playing time at the major league level. 

In an interview with MassLive’s Christopher Smith in Worcester on Wednesday, Dalbec didn’t exactly answer that question but did express his desire to help the Sox win. 

“Obviously I love the Red Sox organization and everything,” Dalbec said. “I want to help the Red Sox organization win because that’s where I am right now. I know the whole term of like, ‘Yeah, you’re playing for 29 other teams.’ But right now, I’m in this organization and I’m just trying to stay ready to help that team win.

“But eyes on the big-picture, I don’t know if there’s necessarily a lane for meaningful opportunity for me with the Red Sox right now."

Triston Casas has first base locked down despite his slow start and Rafael Devers is locked in at third base for the next decade after inking his $313.5 million extension. 

“Obviously where we’re at roster-wise, he needs to be patient,” Cora said to reporters at Guaranteed Rate Field. “And I understand how it works. It’s part of it. While he’s here, he’s going to get chances to contribute. And he’s ready to go. That’s part of being a big leaguer, a professional baseball player. He sees what’s going on here. He expressed his opinion. But at the same time, he belongs to us. He’s with us. And he’s been working hard to get better. In this business, you’re always one injury away from coming up here and contributing. He’s here right now and hopefully, he’s in the right frame of mind. And whenever he gets a shot, just go ahead and keep doing the things you were doing at Triple A.”

To be fair, Dalbec has had opportunities to be a big-league player in each of the last three seasons. He showcased his power during the pandemic-shortened season blasting eight homers in 92 at-bats (23 games). Strikeouts have been his Achilles heel at the plate, whiffing 320 times in 911 plate appearances (825 at-bats, 35.1 % strikeout percentage). 

But Dalbec has previously failed to cash in. Even though he was hot in Worcester, it’s clear he is not part of the Sox' long-term plans. The Washington native is an insurance policy for now, but he is the poster child of a player needing a fresh start.

Caleb Hamilton receives high praise from WooSox skipper after call-up

New Red Sox catcher Caleb Hamilton had quite a Thursday morning en route to meet his new teammates in Minneapolis. 

Hamilton was recalled from the WooSox on Wednesday night after Reese McGuire was diagnosed with a right oblique strain. McGuire hurt himself swinging in an at-bat during the sixth inning against the Twins.

The 28-year-old learned about his call up after he left Polar Park on Wednesday. After packing a bag for Minnesota, he hoped on a flight at 5:34 am Thursday morning to make it to Target Field for the series finale with the Twins.

After getting about three hours of sleep, he arrived in Minneapolis around 8 a.m. CT and was in the clubhouse for 9 a.m.

“I’ve had quite a bit of coffee this morning,” Hamilton joked to reporters pregame.

Hamilton will serve as Connor Wong’s backup and is expected to only play sparingly while he is with the club. Cora told reporters Hamilton will catch one of the games against the White Sox this weekend.

“Playing well, good defender,” Cora said. “He knows how to call the game, veteran. I like the at-bat. I saw it in spring training. He’s very patient and that’s what we saw in spring. Hopefully, he comes here, he doesn’t try to do too much and he can help us win a few ballgames.”

WooSox manager Chad Tracy described Hamilton as an “elite framer” behind the plate.

“He’s an exceptional receiver, that’s an easy answer,” Tracy said postgame.

“His receiving at the bottom of zone… really all over. I think he’s No. 2 according to our stuff that we track, I think he’s No. 2 in all of Triple-A in stealing strikes. He’s an outstanding receiver at the bottom of the zone. He will get pitches that’s out of the zone and turn them into strikes,” added Tracy.

The Red Sox claimed the Washington state native off waivers from the Twins last season. Hamilton made his major league debut with the Twins prior to being designated for assignment, he is 1-for-18 with his only hit, a home run.

Hunter Dobbins earns Double-A promotion, makes debut

Former Texas Tech righty Hunter Dobbins was promoted to Double-A Portland and made his debut on Friday night. 

Dobbins tossed five innings while fanning five and allowing one earned run on three hits and walking three. His velocity on his fastball topped out at 96 mph, and he was able to mix in his secondary pitches including his slider for two of his five strikeouts. 

“I’m learning how to pitch in that mid-90s range, I have a lot more command and control," said Dobbins. "If you look at all the successful starting pitchers in the bigs, they all have four pitches that they can all go to whenever no matter what the count is. It was inevitable it was going to happen and hopefully I do get to that point and I have options when I am facing the Juan Soto’s, the Mike Trout’s, I just don’t have three but I have another wrinkle to throw at them, just as many weapons as possible.

The Red Sox drafted the 6-foot-2, 185-pounder that summer in the eighth round with the 226th pick. He pitched for the Single-A Salem Red Sox of the Carolina League in 2022, going 0-5 with a 5.22 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 69 innings as he began rebounding from the injury. Prior to his promotion, he has gone 4-1 with a 2.63 ERA (41 innings, 12 earned runs) in seven starts for High-A Greenville. He has a 0.95 WHIP and opponents have batted .222 against him. He has shown excellent command with 44 strikeouts and just five walks.

WooSox reliever back off the IL and looking to get back on track

If you aren’t familiar with WooSox reliever Chase Shugart, he pitched in the WooSox first ever no-hitter in franchise history last season. 

This season Shugart started off hot out of the bullpen but a rough month of May raised some flags for the Sox organization. The Texas native gave up 14 earned runs in 8 2/3 innings pitched, which would be good for a 14.54 ERA and a 2.192 WHIP. 

Then he landed on the injured list with an oblique injury which might have been a blessing in disguise of the righty. 

“I was talking with [Paul] Abbott about it, and he agreed that if it was in August I would’ve been told to just go through it,” said Shugart this week at Polar Park. “I was pushing to try to pitch through it but two weeks in June versus two months on the season so that was the mindset of it all.”

Nobody wants to stop throwing when things are going back because you want to get back out there as soon as possible. It was a good reset. Even in my bullpen sessions coming back off the IL we were really focused on staying connected and moving down the mound as well as I can without any extra movement without trying to do too much with my pitches.”

Shugart is now healthy and has seen better results during the month of June. In three outings, he’s tossed three innings while walking two and striking out one.