[RedSoxAnni]

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Amalie Benjamin - Minor League Notebook: Hagadone will keep change

So it wasn't necessarily that one pitch, that one changeup. We continue to push the use and development of his changeup."

But that development will come slowly. Hagadone, a lefthander ranked third in the Sox system by Baseball America, will work on his pitches and on getting stronger the rest of the year, preparing for a full season in 2010.

"This year is going to be a regeneration/rehab year for him," Hazen said. "I mean, he's not going to be pitching in the big leagues for us. So we just want to see him get his regular work in, take the ball every five days, and be healthy."

Hagadone, who hit 97 miles per hour on the radar gun Saturday, said he was a bit disappointed in his command. And it's difficult for him to be satisfied by going just 1 2/3 innings after being on the shelf for a year.

...

So it wasn't necessarily that one pitch, that one changeup. We continue to push the use and development of his changeup."

But that development will come slowly. Hagadone, a lefthander ranked third in the Sox system by Baseball America, will work on his pitches and on getting stronger the rest of the year, preparing for a full season in 2010.

"This year is going to be a regeneration/rehab year for him," Hazen said. "I mean, he's not going to be pitching in the big leagues for us. So we just want to see him get his regular work in, take the ball every five days, and be healthy."

Hagadone, who hit 97 miles per hour on the radar gun Saturday, said he was a bit disappointed in his command. And it's difficult for him to be satisfied by going just 1 2/3 innings after being on the shelf for a year.

...

"Very advanced behind the plate, running a game, throwing, blocking, game-calling," Hazen said of Federowicz. "Working with a pitching staff, very advanced. The bat's been really good, consistent.

"He's a pretty impressive kid. Give the scouting department credit for where we got him. He's been one of our most consistent performers offensively and defensively. He's very calm back behind the plate. He invests a lot of time with the pitchers."

[RedSoxAnni]

The Providence Journal

John Gillooly - Hendricken's Costantino 'excited' to be drafted by Red Sox

PAWTUCKET – Your team is playing for a high school state championship at McCoy Stadium and you're drafted by the Boston Red Sox on the same day.

It doesn't get much better for a Rhode Island high school baseball player.

"It's a blast," said Hendricken senior pitcher Chris Costantino shortly before he took the mound for Thursday night's Division I state title baseball game against North Kingstown and a few hours after he had been drafted by the Red Sox in the 49th round of the Major League amateur draft.

...

An outstanding hitter as well as a big, strong right-handed pitcher, he earned first-team All-State honors in 2008 when his undefeated pitching record and .444 batting average led Hendricken to the state title.

This season he was undefeated on the mound once again with a 9-0 record and also was the Hawks leading hitter with a .542 average. Going into Thursday night's game he had 39 hits in 72 official plate appearances, including 19 for extra bases.




John Gillooly - Division I baseball: A storybook ending for Hendricken . . . and Chris Costantino

The hometown kid gets drafted by the hometown major-league baseball team in the afternoon, then leads his high school baseball team to the state championship that evening with an MVP performance.

That was the Chris Costantino story Thursday as the Hendricken senior All-State pitcher, who was drafted by the Boston Red Sox Thursday afternoon, closed out his high school career with a three-hit, shutout pitching effort Thursday night in leading the Hawks to the 5-0 victory over North Kingstown that gave them their second consecutive Division I state title and their fifth title in the past seven years.

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After giving up two hits in the second hit, he shut out North Kingstown on only one hit over the final five innings and only needed a total of 88 pitches to complete the task. In addition to his pitching, he also drove home one of the Hendricken runs with a sacrifice fly.

Thursday's victory was Costantino's second tournament mound triumph in six days. He also had a complete game effort in Hendricken's 4-3 victory over South Kingstown in the opening round of the double elimination title series on Saturday. In addition to Thursday night's RBI, he also hit a home run in each of the first two games of the title series.



Joe McDonald - Baldelli happy there's another Hendricken star in the Red Sox organization

"It's nice to see a local guy get drafted," said Baldelli. "It's an exciting time for all the young ballplayers in the area. Whether he signs, or not, there's no wrong decision, there's no right decision because it's different for every person.

"I wish him luck. It's nice to see a guy from my high school get an opportunity and a chance. They do a nice job over there."

[RedSoxAnni]

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Brendan McGair - Red Sox draft Lincoln's Costantino

The third and final day of MLB’s First Year Player Draft yielded another draft pick with ties to the Blackstone Valley. Lincoln’s Chris Costantino was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 49th round (out of a possible 50) with 1,488 pick in the draft. Costantino’s selection comes 24 hours after fellow Lincolnite Dan Rhault was taken by Tampa Bay in the 26th round (No. 799 overall).

A senior at Bishop Hendricken, the 6-foot-3, 235-pound Costantino has caught the eye scouts due to blend of power hitting and pitching. “Probably 10-15 different teams,” said Costantino last month when asked how many MLB clubs had taken a flyer on him.

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It will be interesting to see if he forgoes college and turns pro. Should Costantino opt to sign, he would likely report to the Red Sox’ Gulf Coast club in Florida.

[RedSoxAnni]

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Sea Dogs depart Erie with a win; Portland ends its three-game series on a winning note, striking out 12 and walking eight in a 5-3 victory.

Portland's pitchers walked eight but struck out 12 in their first win against the Southern Division this season.

Right-handed pitcher Jarod Plummer (5-2) earned the win for the Sea Dogs (30-29) despite giving up six walks over six innings. He yielded just two hits, three runs and struck out seven. Erie starter Luis Marte (4-6) gave up nine hits, two walks and four runs over six innings for the SeaWolves (33-26).

Center fielder Josh Reddick (2 for 5) provided the winning RBI, snapping a 3-3 tie with a two-out, run-scoring single in the fourth inning. He scored Reid Engel.

[RedSoxAnni]

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Erik Gallant - From Greenfield to Green Monster: Red Sox draft pick Jeremiah Bayer has Western Mass. roots

Bayer, who features an 86-88 mph sinker, told the Average Joe Show on ESPN's Springfield affiliate 1450 WHLL that being drafted by the Red Sox is a dream come true.

"It was unbelievable," said Bayer. "I was just looking for a chance to play anywhere this summer. The fact that it's the Red Sox, the hometown team, the team I've been rooting for all my life makes it that much sweeter."

He was taken in the 30th round of the draft, the 918th pick overall, but Bayer wasn't waiting in front of the computer screen to see his name scroll across.

...

Bayer finished his 2-year career at Trinity with a record of 21-1 and an ERA of 1.07. He recorded 165 strikeouts in 176.1 innings pitched and was the 2009 Division III Pitcher of the Year.

[RedSoxAnni]

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Bill Burt - Yaz — The Next Generation: Sox draft Andover grandson of Hall of Famer

What does the Red Sox drafting Yastrzemski mean?

It means nothing. Yet it means everything.

Yastrzemski has already accepted a partial scholarship to SEC power Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tenn. What happened yesterday doesn't change that.

But being drafted is part of the evolution of a baseball player. Most major leaguers were drafted in high school.

Heck, Tom Brady was drafted in the 18th round by the Montreal Expos as a catcher.

"(The Red Sox scout) said he understood that I was probably going to go to college," said Yastrzemski. "But he also said that I deserved to be drafted. That I had worked hard to get where I am and that I earned it. And that the Red Sox were not wasting a pick on me (because of my name). That was nice to hear."

[RedSoxAnni]

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Red Sox offer baseball contract to Wes grad

MIDDLETOWN — Drew Dominguez, who graduated from Wesleyan University on Sunday, May 24 with a degree in government, was offered a contract as a non-drafted free agent by the Boston Red Sox Thursday.

Once signed, he will be assigned to the Red Sox single-A minor league affiliate in Lowell, Mass., the Lowell Spinners of the NY Penn League.

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He posted a team-best .387 batting average with a school record 60 hits.

He broke his own Wesleyan seasonal record for hits he set in 2008 when he connected for 56 safeties.

He stands second all-time in hits at Wesleyan with 174. Dominguez also paced the Cardinals in home runs with five, tied with senior Garrett Lamborn and tied junior Brice Kelly for the team lead in RBIs (35).

Playing shortstop while occasionally pitching, Dominguez started all 35 games and had an outstanding .955 field percentage.

He also paced the Cardinals in stolen bases with 11 thefts in 12 attempts.

As a pitcher, his 5-2 record led the way as did his five complete games. He ended with a 6.29 ERA in his first season on the mound.

[RedSoxAnni]

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Gentile Accounts for Drive's Lone Run in 5-1 Loss

The Tourists drew first blood in the top of the third as Scott Robinson belted 1-1 offering from Caleb Clay (2-3) over the Green Monster. The Drive would quickly answer in the home half as Ryan Dent singled, stole second, advanced to third on David Marks' groundout, and scored on Zach Gentile's infield single.

However, that would be Greenville's only run as the trio of Ethan Hollingsworth (4-4), Stephen Dodson, and Kurt Yacko held the Drive scoreless over the final six innings. Hollingsworth, Asheville's starter, lasted 6.0 innings in which he allowed three hits, two walks and struckout six.

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Making his second start since recovering from Tommy John Surgery last April, Nick Hagadone held the Tourists hitless over 2-2/3 scoreless innings. The Southpaw walked one and struck out four, while touching 98 miles per hour on the Fluor Field radar gun.