biggest storyline in the first part of the 2024 season. Rather, it was the revolving door between Worcester and Boston that saw many WooSox make an impact on the big league roster. In 2024 alone, 28 WooSox players earned a call-up to Beantown with 11 making their Major League debuts––fifth most in baseball behind only the Chicago White Sox (13), Oakland Athletics (13), San Francisco Giants (13), and Colorado Rockies (12). The Detroit Tigers, Miami Marlins, and Texas Rangers also had 11 players make their big league debuts. Notably, Cam Booser earned his first call-up on April 19 after returning to professional baseball two years prior. Signed by the Minnesota Twins as an undrafted free agent, the southpaw spent parts of five seasons in the minors before injuries forced him to retire. With his professional career in the rearview, Booser moved back to his hometown of Seattle, WA and became a carpenter. A few years later, the Oregon State product rediscovered his mid-90s fastball on a youth ballfield and found himself back on a minor league mound. Not too long after, Booser was suiting up to pitch at Fenway Park. Booser’s comeback tale was just one of many heartfelt stories that beat in the Heart of the Commonwealth during the 2024 season. Jamie Westbrook, a Holyoke native who signed a minor league contract with the Red Sox in December 2023, made his MLB debut on June 2 after spending 11 years patrolling the minor leagues with five different organizations. In two big league stints with Boston, Westbrook homered twice and drove in seven runs. Nick Sogard followed with his first promotion to Beantown, making his debut on August 2 after spending two-and-a-half seasons in Worcester. Zach Penrod––who was in the Independent Leagues in 2023––appeared in seven games out of the bullpen for the Red Sox during the season’s final two weeks. Mickey Gasper, Richard Fitts, and Luis Guerrero also made their debuts in
the final two months of the season, joining the train of WooSox to contribute at the Major League level in 2024. The ladder between Worcester and Boston extended to Double-A Portland with the Sea Dogs sending 22 players to Polar Park over the course of the season. Including nine rehabbing Red Sox, the WooSox employed 84 players––breaking the Red Sox Triple-A affiliate’s record of 79 set just a year earlier. The revolving door between Portland, Worcester, and Boston also led to a record 281 player transactions, surpassing the 2023 WooSox’ mark of 271 for most by a Red Sox Triple-A affiliate.
League-Leading Bats Can’t Buy Wins
With new faces filling the clubhouse each day, the WooSox struggled to string together a winning stretch. Through July, the club’s longest winning streak was four games (April 14-19) with several three game streaks mixed in. By the end of July, the WooSox held a 48-55 record after a 35-40 finish to the first half. Though the team’s on-field record didn’t reflect it, the WooSox’ offensive production was among the International League’s best. Entering August, the WooSox led the IL in OBP (.369) and walks (533) while ranking second in runs scored (591). Their +54 run differential was third best out of 20 IL teams, behind only Syracuse (+97) and Omaha (+98). Chase Meidroth––who was crowned team MVP during the final homestand of the year––was the WooSox’ leading offensive contributor all season long. The former fourth round pick hit .299/.441/.401 through July with 97 hits and 69 runs scored in 88 games. His 105 walks at years end set the single season record for any Red Sox Triple-A affiliate player––breaking the previous mark (92) set by Mike Twardoski of the Pawtucket Red Sox in 1992. (Meidroth was traded to the White Sox in December in the deal that brought Garrett Crochet to Boston).
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