June Players of the Month: Zach Ehrhard and Eduardo Rivera

The third full month of the minor league season is in the books, which means it is time to present the SoxProspects.com Players of the Month for June to outfielder Zach Ehrhard (pictured, left) and left-hander Eduardo Rivera (pictured, bottom right). Both prospects are currently ranked within the organization's top 35.

Ehrhard, 22, put together a solid June with Portland. The speedy right-handed hitter batted .278/.363/.500 with five doubles, five home runs, 10 RBIs, 15 runs scored, eight stolen bases, 10 walks, and 23 strikeouts over 25 games (102 plate appearances). Overall, he is slashing .252/.327/.459 with 10 doubles, six home runs, 15 RBIs, 23 runs scored, 10 stolen bases, 12 walks, and 29 strikeouts in 37 games (151 plate appearances) since being promoted from Greenville on May 20. He has made 19 starts in right field, 10 starts in left field, six starts at DH, and two starts in center field for the Sea Dogs.

This marks the first time that Ehrhard has been recognized as a SoxProspects.com Player of the Month. Twice drafted by Boston, Ehrhard (the younger brother of fellow Red Sox minor leaguer and Sea Dogs teammate Drew Ehrhard) went pro by signing for $500,000 as a fourth-round selection out of Oklahoma State last summer. The Tampa, Fla. native is currently ranked as the organization's No. 29 prospect, up 18 spots after opening the season at No. 47.

Rivera, also 22, is the SoxProspects.com Pitcher of the Month for a second straight month. Following an impressive May with Greenville, the young lefty carried that momentum over into June and was recently rewarded with a promotion to Portland. In four outings (three starts) between the two affiliates, he posted a 1.57 ERA (3.11 FIP) with 29 strikeouts to eight walks over 23 total innings in which opposing hitters batted .183 against him. He has allowed six earned runs on 13 hits, six walks, and 10 strikeouts through his first two starts (9 1/3 innings) at the Double-A level. 

A former 2021 11th-round draft selection of the Athletics out of Colegio Cadest in Puerto Rico, Rivera was released by the A's last May and signed a minor league contract with the Red Sox shortly thereafter. The 6-foot-7, 237-pound southpaw features a 93-97 mph fastball that tops out at 98 mph, an 87-89 mph cutter, an 83-86 mph slider, an 85-89 mph changeup, and a 78-80 mph curveball. He is currently regarded as Boston's No. 35 prospect, which ranks 17th among pitchers in the system.