The Salem Red Sox had a great start to the Carolina League season, sweeping the Delmarva Shorebirds in a three game series at Salem Memorial Ballpark. The Sox dominated Friday’s opener with a 12-1 win, then took 4-2 and 6-5 wins on Friday and Saturday.
Friday’s game was highlighted by a seven run seventh inning by the Sox. Kelvin Diaz had a grand slam home run that inning and Freili Encarnacion had three hits and five RBIs. Blake Aita pitched five shutout innings for the opening day win.
On Saturday Austin Ehrlicher picked up the win with two and a third no-hit innings of relief, fanning four, and Sunday’s getaway game saw the Sox take a 4-0 lead after two innings and hold on for the win. Natanael Yuten had two hits and two runs batted in.
This season’s opening roster includes a blend of talent with 17 pitchers, three catchers, five infielders, and five outfielders. The list also includes three players ranked among the top 30 prospects in the Red Sox organization.
The 2025 season will mark the debut of new manager Ozzie Chavez, who takes the reins after two seasons as Salem’s bench coach under Liam Carroll. Carroll was recently promoted to manage the High-A Greenville Drive. Chavez, entering his 10th season with the Red Sox organization, brings valuable experience from his previous role managing the Red Sox’ Dominican Republic Academy from 2019 to 2022.
Of the players on the Opening Day roster, 16 are returning to Salem while 14 are making their Single-A and professional baseball debuts. Among the roster highlights is Franklin Arias, the No. 4 prospect in the Red Sox organization and No. 75 prospect in all of baseball. The 19-year-old shortstop from Caracas, Venezuela returns to Salem after playing 36 games with the team during the second half of the 2024 season. Arias, who served as the leadoff hitter for all 34 games he started last year, brings both a solid glove and a consistent bat to the 2025 roster.
Also making a highly anticipated return is Yoeilin Cespedes, the No. 7 prospect in the Red Sox organization. Cespedes was assigned to Salem midway through last season but was placed on the injured list and underwent a season-ending surgery in July. Before his promotion, he batted .319 with five home runs and 29 RBIs in the Florida Complex League.
On the mound, Salem welcomes in eight of the top college arms from a year ago who are set to make their pro ball debuts in 2025. Brandon Clarke, the No. 29 prospect in the Red Sox organization and a 2024 fifth-round draft pick, joins Salem after playing at the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota. He’ll be joined by Blake Aita (Kennesaw State), Steven Brooks (Cal Poly), Devin Futrell (Vanderbilt), Matt McShane (Saint Joseph’s), Shea Sprague (North Carolina), Brady Tygart (Arkansas), and Joe Vogatsky (James Madison).
The Sox are on the road this week for a six game series in Fredricksburg but they’ll return April 15 to host Lynchburg for a half dozen games. Salem lost the opening game of the series in Fredricksburg Tuesday, 9-8 on a walk-off win by the Nationals.
