Cup of Coffee: Teel, Zanetello eras begin; Scott powers slugfest

8/4 Cup of Coffee: One of the biggest annual events of the season came along on Thursday, as the Red Sox saw their two top draftees make their professional debuts. Kyle Teel, selected with the 14th overall pick, and Nazzan Zanetello, the 50th selection, joined the FCL Red Sox lineup. While it was an inauspicious debut, with both players going hitless in a shutout loss, the two immediately become two of the top prospects in a resurgent Boston farm system. Elsewhere in the system, Worcester launched a seven-homer barrage led by Stephen Scott (pictured), while Portland found itself on the other end of a slugfest. Greenville and Salem were both rained out, and the DSL squads split their contests with the Pirates' affiliates.

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The ball was flying out of NBT Bank Park on Thursday evening as the two squads combined for 12 home runs in the slugfest, including six in the third inning alone. Stephen Scott blasted two of Worcester seven round-trippers, delivering three-run shots in the fifth and ninth innings. Scott also doubled, finishing the night 3 for 5 with 10 total bases. There was a stretch where four out of five Worcester hitters went deep, with David Hamilton and Ceddanne Rafaela going back-to-back and then Ronaldo Hernandez and Ryan Fitzgerald doing the same. Bradley Zimmer accounted for the other long ball in the fourth inning. Fitzgerald added a pair of doubles, and every Worcester starter had at least one hit. 

Shane Drohan was on the other end of the favorable hitting conditions, surrendering three homers in five innings but otherwise limiting the damage to get credit for the win. Overall, he allowed four runs in the five frames, striking out six against two walks. 

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In Thursday's other slugfest, Portland saw its rally fall short after falling into a 12-3 hole. Blaze Jordan delivered a three-run homer in the eighth as part of a 2-for-4 effort. It was Jordan's 15th home run of the season and third since his promotion from Greenville. Tyler Dearden also went deep, adding a double and three RBI to his 2-for-4 line. Corey Rosier was 2 for 5 with a double and a run scored. Hunter Dobbins gave up seven runs on six hits in 4 2/3, taking the loss. Wyatt Olds provided some relief with a scoreless sixth inning. The outing was notable for Olds as it was the first time in 13 Double-A appearances in which he didn't issue a walk. 

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It was raining in Greenville, so they'll try for a doubleheader on Friday. 

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Never content to be outdone by its fellow Class-A affiliate to the south, Salem also had a rainout. They'll continue the trend with a Friday twinbill.

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The highly anticipated debuts of Boston's top two draft picks finally came on Thursday. First-rounder Kyle Teel got the start at catcher and was slotted third in the FCL Sox lineup. His slot followed second-rounder Nazzan Zanetello, who got the nod at shortstop and hit second. Zanetello's first plate appearance was a fly out to center, with Teel grounding to second in his initial look. Both went 0 for 2 and were replaced in the sixth inning. The two were not alone in the hitless category: the FCL Sox managed just three hits on the afternoon, two coming off the bat of Natanael Yuten. Wandy Abreu took the loss, giving up four runs on five hits in 2 2/3.

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Franklin Arias made an impact in his return to the lineup after a two-week absence. The 17-year-old shortstop was 3 for 4 with a double, RBI, and two runs scored to lead Team Red's 12-hit attack. Denison Sanchez got the win in relief, but it was Gilberto Batista who was the highlight out of the bullpen. Batista gave up just two hits across four scoreless innings, striking out five without issuing a walk. 

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The Sox' and Pirates' affiliates drew a split on Thursday, moving both of Boston's affiliates to matching 20-21 records on the season. Nicolas De La Cruz drew the tough-luck loss, giving up one run on three hits in five innings, striking out four without allowing a walk. Yoeilin Cespedes collected three of the Blue squad's six hits, including his 13th double of the year. 

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Player of the Day: Almost everyone homered in Syracuse, but Stephen Scott gets the nod here because he did it a second time. Scott now has three three-run homers in two August games, raising his line since his May promotion to Triple-A up to .308/.404/.648. Scott was a key cog on Vanderbilt's 2019 National Championship squad, and he's gradually risen the rankings while climbing the ladder through the system. Initially known for his Monday cookouts, Scott has established himself as a serious prospect, currently sitting 38th on the SoxProspects.com board.