Cup of Coffee: DSL season begins; Nunez stars in FCL slugfest

6/4 Cup of Coffee: The final affiliates began their 2024 minor league seasons on Monday, with Boston's two DSL squads going head to head. The FCL Sox were also in action, with the Sox dropping a wild back-and-forth event despite the efforts of Starlyn Nunez (pictured) and Franklin Arias.

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The two teams combined for 21 runs, 25 hits, and 44 baserunners despite it being only a seven-inning contest. Every member of the Sox starting lineup reached base in the loss. Starlyn Nunez led the effort, going 2 for 4 with a double, three RBI, and a hit batsman. Franklin Arias also reached base three times with a double and a pair of walks. Wuilliams Rodriguez made his first start of the season after making his first five appearances out of the bullpen. He allowed two runs on three hits in 2 1/3 innings. Deybi Salcedo was charged with the loss in relief.

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The Dominican Summer League campaign kicked off with the weekly Sox vs. Sox action. Scheduled to go nine innings, rain forced Monday's contest to an early finish in the bottom of the seventh. The game saw numerous players make their professional debuts, notably top international signee Vladimir Asencio. Batting third for Team Blue and getting the start in right field, the 17-year-old reached base twice, drawing a walk and getting hit by a pitch. Jancel Santana had two of the Blue squad's four hits, and Tavano Baker picked up the game's lone extra-base hit when he led off the game with a double. Abis Prado got the start for Blue, allowing three unearned runs in 2 1/3 innings, striking out three and walking one, taking the loss.

Team Red managed only three hits in the contest but took advantage of a pair of first-inning errors to plate two runs. Anderson Fermin and Avinson Pinto both registered a single, stolen base, and run scored. Starting pitcher Dariel Morillo gave up a pair of unearned runs in 1 1/3 innings of work. Jose Martinez got the win in relief, giving up just one hit in 2 2/3 frames, striking out two without issuing a walk.

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Player of the Day: Starlyn Nunez stood out in spring training among the 2023 International Free Agency class who came stateside this year. Unfortunately, his season got off to a false start, as he was injured in the FCL's first game and missed more than three weeks. After going 0 for 7 in his first three games back in the lineup, Nunez rebounded in a big way Monday, driving in three runs, reaching base three times, and recording his first extra-base hit of the year. Nunez, signed to a modest $52,500 bonus out of the Dominican last January, is currently ranked 48th in the system.