Did you miss them?
The last time the Worcester Red Sox played at Polar Park, the Triple-A club beat the Syracuse Mets, 5-3, on July 9.
Since then, the WooSox went on an All-Star Break, traveled to Jacksonville, Florida, and wrapped up a nine-game road trip with a series finale Sunday in Moosic, Pennsylvania. In that time span, Worcester went 6-3 and now owns a 52-43 (13-7) record for the season.
Worcester’s recent winning ways have placed them in a tie atop both the International League East and the overall International League with 55 games remaining in the second half. One International League team — the one with the best record in the second half — will advance to take on Norfolk in the playoffs from Sept. 26-28.
Top prospects make their way to Triple-A Worcester
As the WooSox settle in for a six-game homestand this week with the Rochester Red Wings, fans will receive a chance to catch some of the organization’s top prospects for the first time in person. And also a familiar face.
If you missed him during the last WooSox homestand, Ceddanne Rafaela (outfield/shortstop) will be back in Worcester on Tuesday to play in his 20th game with the Triple-A club. Rafaela, the No. 80th-ranked prospect in all of baseball according to MLB.com, has a .305 batting average, 6 home runs and 18 RBIs in 19 games with the WooSox.
Other top prospects who were recently called up to Worcester include Brian Van Belle (pitcher) and Niko Kavadas (first), while fan favorite Ryan Fitzgerald was just reinstated from the injured list.
Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story and catcher Reese McGuire could be in the WooSox lineup this week as they inch their way closer to the major leagues on rehab assignments.
Story, who hasn’t played for the Red Sox this year after undergoing offseason elbow surgery, began his first rehab stint last week with the Portland Sea Dogs. In three games, Story went 2 for 8 with a homer and three RBIs.
McGuire, who hasn’t played for the Sox since suffering a right oblique strain in a game against the Twins on June 21, is also nearing his return to the field. Both Story and McGuire are “strong possibilities” to be playing in games at Polar Park this week, according to a source.
Women in Sports Day
The Worcester Red Sox celebrates their second annual “UniBank Women in Sports Day” at Polar Park on Saturday before a game against the Red Wings at 4:05 pm
From 12:30 to 2 pm, the club hosts a free panel that features three female trailblazers in baseball: Janet Marie Smith, Naomi Silver and Maybelle Blair. The panel will be moderated by longtime NESN personality Jayme Parker.
Fans do not need a ticket to the game to attend the panel. However, the WooSox will offer a special ticket package that includes a spot at the panel, a ticket in the third base field box or on the berm in left field, $2 of loaded value and a limited-edition UniBank Women in Sports shirt.
Fans can purchase their ticket package at fevogm.com/event/Womensports7.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of ticket packages and limited-edition “Women Belong in Sports” hats will be donated to Abby’s House in support of their mission to provide shelter, affordable housing and advocacy and support services to homeless, battered, and low-income women in Worcester. To learn more about Abby’s House, visit abbyshouse.org.
Polar Park schedule of events for upcoming WooSox homestand
Here’s the schedule for the week at Polar Park, which includes a visit from Jim Rice on Thursday:
6:45 pm Tuesday: Taco & Tequila Tuesday, presented by Tequila Herradura; Leominster Town Takeover; Tooth Day, presented by Simply Orthodontics and New England Oral Surgery. Tickets for the third annual Edward Bennett Williams Classic between Holy Cross and Harvard Sept. 30 go on sale at PolarPark.com.
12:15 pm Wednesday: STEM Day, presented by AbbVie; Los Wepas de Worcester game, presented by La Mega Radio (ceremonies will highlight the cultures of Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Panama); First Responder Wednesday, presented by National Grid, when first responders receive four free WooSox Loop tickets when presenting their credentials at the ticket office.
6:45 p.m. Thursday: Throwback Thursday, presented by JetBlue, featuring a special appearance by National Baseball Hall of Famer Jim Rice, who will sign autographs in the Sherwood’s Diner during innings 3–6; Rutland Town Takeover.
6:45 pm Friday: UniBank Fireworks, set to a “Gettin’ Jiggy with the ’90s” playlist; Jimmy Fund Night at Polar Park, when we will uplift those in the battle against cancer, celebrate survivors and remember those whom we have lost.
4:05 pm Saturday: WooSox Youth Clinic, presented by Hanover Insurance, at 10 am; UniBank Women in Sports Day; postgame Sunset Catch on the Field, presented by Dunkin’.
1:05 pm Sunday: Pirates, Princes, and Princesses Day; Fallon Health Sunday Funday, when Future Starters take the field with the WooSox; Kids Run the Bases, presented by HP Hood.
— Contact Tommy Cassell at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @tommycassell44.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: WooSox set to welcome Trevor Story, Jim Rice to Polar Park this week