Keith Couch has been one of the most consistent pitchers in the Boston minor league system for the past seven years, but the Red Sox seem content to let go him at the end of this season.
Couch has a career 51-42 record with a 3.89 ERA. In Double-A, he is 27-9 with a 3.22 ERA.
Couch, 26, had one solid chance in Triple-A and floundered in 2015 (4-10, 6.14). He began this year with two appearances in Pawtucket before being sent back to Portland. He has bounced back up to Triple-A occasionally, but has spent most of this season in the Eastern League.
“He struggled in Triple-A last year and we currently don’t have a rotation spot (in Pawtucket) available,” said Boston’s director of player development, Ben Crockett.
Couch can read the writing on the locker room wall. He will be a minor league free agent after this season.
“It’s nothing I can control,” he said. “I’m just going to go out there and pitch.
“I’m pitching for me. I’m trying to get a job next year.”
Couch had two obstacles when he became a pro in 2010. For one, Couch was a 13th-round draft pick from Division II Adelphi University on Long Island, New York – not necessary the pedigree of a prospect.
Second, Couch doesn’t have a dominant pitch. He’s not a pitcher who can blow away hitters, but rather he throws strikes and hopes to go deep into ballgames.
When Couch first came to Portland in 2013, the Sea Dogs’ rotation was loaded with the likes of Matt Barnes, Anthony Ranaudo, Brandon Workman and Drake Britton. Couch was initially sent to the pen. Later, he would join the rotation. Couch finished 11-3 with a 3.47 ERA (8-1, 2.98 as a starter).
An injury limited Couch to 18 games in 2014 (8-2, 2.96), but he was called up to Pawtucket for the playoffs and won the championship game with 62/3 shutout innings.
But Couch’s 2015 season did not go well. His four-pitch mix of a 91 mph sinking fastball, slider, curve and change-up was not effective. He still led Pawtucket in innings (1242/3), however.
Maybe if Couch was a top prospect, he might have received another chance. But the 2016 Pawtucket roster was filled with starters from the beginning, from leftovers Henry Owens and Brian Johnson, to promoted William Cuevas and recently acquired pitchers Roenis Elias and Sean O’Sullivan. Later, Eduardo Rodriguez would spend time in Triple-A, and eventually Aaron Wilkerson and Justin Haley were promoted from Portland.
In Couch’s last two starts in Pawtucket, July 15 and 20, he pitched seven innings in each, allowing a combined 12 hits, three earned runs and no walks while striking out 12. He made a relief appearance July 24 (31/3 innings, one run) but has been in Portland since. He has allowed one earned run in his last two starts.
“The guy knows how to pitch,” Sea Dogs Manager Carlos Febles said. “He uses both corners. Does a good job pitching inside, and that opens up the outer half.”
Couch, who is 8-4 with a 3.16 ERA in Portland this year, hopes a job will open up in 2017, with any team.
“I just want to keep having success and hopefully something happens next year,” Couch said. “I want to keep playing baseball.”
IN PAWTUCKET, Haley is shining with a 7-3 record, 2.78 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. He has not allowed an earned run in his last three starts, including Friday’s eight-inning, two-hit scoreless outing at Buffalo. … Johnson has allowed four earned runs in his last three starts (181/3 innings).
Catcher Christian Vazquez may be pushing to get back to Boston. In his last nine games, he’s batting .367 (11 for 30) with two doubles.
Remember Rusney Castillo, the Triple-A player who is making $10 million? Maybe he can make a comeback at age 29. In his last 13 games, he’s batting .420 (21 for 50) with two doubles and four triples.
IN PORTLAND, Yoan Moncada, 21, finally moved to third base for a game. But he has missed the last two because of a troublesome ankle he sprained the week before. Red Sox Manager John Farrell said Moncada will likely go to the Arizona Fall League to continue playing third base. … Mauricio Dubon, 22, is batting .313 with an .831 OPS in 43 games.
IN SALEM, pitcher Michael Kopech, 20, struck out the first six batters Saturday and 11 of the 19 batters he faced. Kopech is 2-1 with a 1.41 ERA in eight games (381/3 inning), with 60 strikeouts and 22 walks. … Rafael Devers, 19 had a two-homer game Thursday, giving him 11 homers this year. In the second half of the season, Devers is batting .332 with a .970 OPS.
IN GREENVILLE, 2014 first-round draft pick and third baseman Michael Chavis, 21 is slumping (.180 in his last 10 games). His numbers are down to .257 with a .748 OPS.
IN LOWELL, Jordan Weems is making strides in his conversion to pitching. Weems, 23, a catcher when Boston drafted him in the third round of the 2011 draft, came to Portland this year as a first baseman. After batting .119 in 22 games, he and the Red Sox decided on a position switch. Weems has a combined 3.38 ERA in 13 games (24 innings) at Lowell and in the Gulf Coast League, with 19 strikeouts and seven walks.
IN THE GULF COAST League, 2016 first-round draft pick Jason Groome, 17, has joined the roster. Groome, considered the best high school pitcher in the draft, signed for $3.65 million. He’s expected to pitch before the season ends, but no date has been set. “He is working through his throwing progression right now,” Crockett said.
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