Minor Notes: Cora's firing leads to organizational shuffle; Eduardo Rivera debuts
0
18
The headlines this week were dominated by the firing of manager Alex Cora and several coaches, a move that had implications for the minor league staffs. Several coaches were reassigned, including a number of ex-prospects. Not to be overshadowed were several player moves, which included the debut of Eduardo Rivera (pictured, left) and the return to the major leagues for Payton Tolle.
-----
Coaching Carousel
Less than one month into his eighth season as Red Sox manager, the team relieved Alex Cora of his duties. Cora had a 620-541 record during his stint in Boston, but a lackluster 10-17 start during which he seemed to be at odds with the front office doomed him. Also let go were hitting coach Pete Fatse, third-base coach Kyle Hudson, bench coach Ramon Vazquez, assistant hitting coach Dillon Lawson, and Hitting Strategy Coach Joe Cronin. Jason Varitek was to be reassigned from his position as game-planning and run-prevention coach, but it is unclear at this time what his new assignment will be and whether he'll be inclined to accept it.
Chad Tracy, who has helmed the Worcester Red Sox since 2022, is 2-0 since taking over as interim manager. Promotions among the major league coaching staff included:
- Jose David Flores, who spent three years with Tracy in Worcester before being promoted to the major league staff last season, will slide into the bench coach role. He had been serving as first base coach most recently.
- Chad Epperson takes over as third base coach in his 25th season in the Red Sox organization. He had served as Portland's manager since 2022, and previously spent 12 years as the minor league catching coordinator. He coached and managed at several levels in the system before that, and was in the organization as a player from 1997 through 1999.
- John Soteropulos has kept the title of assistant hitting coach, but is serving as de facto lead coach in the interim.
- Collin Hertzler, who worked with Soteropulos at Driveline, has also been added as an assistant hitting coach.
- Pablo Cabrera moves into Flores' old role as first-base coach. He was promoted from a minor league infielder/outfielder coordinator role
- Jack Simoetty is the youngest member of the staff, as the 26-year-old takes another of the hitting assistant roles.
- Nelson Paulino, a 29-year veteran of the organization, is expected to be added as the third hitting assistant.
- Drew Ehrhard retired as a player to take a role as the major league bullpen catcher. Ehrhard was on the active roster for Double-A Portland, playing as recently as Thursday. Signed as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Tampa in July 2023, Ehrhard saw playing time in 104 games over the last four seasons. He finishes his pro career with a .233/.306/.376 slash line.
The major league moves created several minor league spots that were backfilled.
- Iggy Suarez (pictured, right, as a player in 2007) takes over as Worcester manager. The 44-year-old Suarez has been with the Sox since he was drafted in the 24th round of the 2003 draft, except for a three-year run as a player in the independent Atlantic League. Suarez joined the Worcester coaching staff under Tracy last season after previously having served eight years as a minor league manager: with the Lowell Spinners in 2016 and 2017 and the Greenville Drive from 2018 through 2024. Suarez was in the organization as a player from 2003 through 2009. He advanced as far as Triple-A as a player and was twice named the Sea Dogs Citizen of the Year.
- Kyle Sasala slides into Epperson's old role as Portland manager. He joined the staff in 2024 as the team's Defensive Coach after previously working at Grove City College.
-----
Rivera and Tolle called up
On Tuesday, it was announced that Eduardo Rivera would be promoted from Portland to Worcester. A few hours later, he learned that the promotion would actually be all the way to the majors. With the bullpen depleted after the Patriots Day weekend series, Rivera made his major league debut on Tuesday against the Yankees, throwing 3 1/3 scoreless innings of much-needed long relief in a 4-0 loss. Despite the effort, he was optioned back to Worcester the following day.
Rivera's stay in the majors was short by design, meant to fill the gap before Payton Tolle could make Thursday's start. The system's top prospect was dominant, allowing a run on three hits in six innings, striking out 11 batters against just one walk. A Yankee rally in the seventh meant that Tolle was left with a no-decision, but he stands to take at least a couple more turns in the major league rotation, at least until Sonny Gray is ready to return.
-----
Transaction updates
Two players who were returned to the Red Sox after being selected in the Rule 5 draft took steps forward. Angel Bastardo, selected by the Blue Jays in December 2024 with the knowledge that he would be out all of 2025 after Tommy John surgery, failed to make Toronto's major league squad out of spring training. Bastardo was activated by the WooSox on Tuesday and pitched in two games out of the bullpen. He struck out five and walked three in three innings without allowing a hit. Jedixson Paez did make the White Sox out of camp but was returned to Boston after three major league appearances. Originally assigned and officially activated by Portland two weeks ago, he pitched one inning on April 18th out of the bullpen, allowing one run on a solo homer in one inning. He started on April 25th, again just going one inning, striking out one and surrendering one hit.
Additional Moves:
- Catcher Johanfran Garcia was activated by Portland after spending the first three weeks of the season on the development list. He is currently ranked 52nd in the system
- Along with Rivera's call-up on Tuesday, the Red Sox recalled Tyler Samaniego from Worcester and added Sonny Gray to the 15-day IL. To make room for Rivera, they optioned Jack Anderson back to Triple-A and moved first baseman Triston Casas to the 60-day IL.
- The promotion of Tolle was followed by a series of pitching roster moves down the ladder. Michael Sansone, continuing to flex between Portland and Worcester, rejoined the WooSox. PJ Labriola, who was used regularly in major league spring training, joins the Sea Dogs for the first time. Brandon Neely moves up from Salem after the 2024 third-rounder struck out eight in 4 2/3 innings with the RidgeYaks. Finally, Jason Gilman joined Salem from extended spring training. Gilman, Boston's 16th-round pick in 2025, made his pro debut on Saturday with two hitless innings, striking out five.
-----
Where Are They Now
Pitcher Alex Hoppe was recalled by the Mariners over the weekend and made his major league debut on Monday. The right-hander was drafted in the sixth round of the 2022 draft and routinely registered with the highest average fastball velocity in the system. He peaked in the rankings at number 28, but struggled at times with control and consistency. Rule 5 eligible headed into 2026, Boston dealt him to Seattle before the roster deadline in an exchange for catcher Luke Heyman, and the Mariners promptly protected him by adding him to the 40-man. He had been dominant with Triple-A Tacoma before the recall, allowing just one unearned run in eight innings across eight appearances, striking out 12.
-----
Players of the Week April 20-26
Yophery Rodriguez, OF, Greenville Drive
5G, 7-17 3 HR, 7 RBI, 7 R, 4 BB, .412/.545/1.000
Once again, a Greenville trip to Asheville produces a player-of-the-week performance. Yophery Rodriguez took advantage of the friendly conditions at McCormick Field to post 17 total bases in just five games. This continues the strong play for Rodriguez, who struggled some in an aggressive assignment to Greenville as a 19-year-old in 2025. Through 17 games this year, the former Brewer farmhand is hitting .317/.286/651 and has already matched his home run total from last year. He is currently ranked 56th in the organization.
Anthony Eyanson, RHP, Greenville Drive
1 GS, 4 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K, .071 OBA
The aforementioned friendly hitting conditions in Asheville only serve to make Eyanson's line all the more impressive. Boston's 2026 third-round pick allowed just one hit in 4 1/3 innings in Saturday's start against the tourists, striking out nine of the 14 batters he faced and generating 19 swinging strikes. Eyanson has yet to walk a batter in 16 2/3 innings across four starts, and he has struck out 27. This week's effort dropped the organization's sixth-ranked prospect's ERA to 0.54.
Photo Credit: Eduardo Rivera, Iggy Suarez, both by Kelly O'Connor