'Just sit back and watch': Between ants and baseball, there's a lot to see with the WooSox

WORCESTER — Between housing ants, Boston beating New York on Sunday Night Baseball and some looming promotions, baseball in the commonwealth is starting to hit its stride this time of year.

And the Worcester Red Sox find themselves right in the thick of it.

Coming off a 4-0 win over the Syracuse Mets on Saturday, and back-to-back off days, the WooSox will welcome the first-place Rochester Red Wings to Polar Park this week to continue a nine-game homestand.

The Red Wings currently own the best record in the International League East with a second-half mark of 10-2 — and lead the fifth-place WooSox (6-5) by 3½ games. The teams will play Tuesday at 6:45 p.m., Wednesday at 12:15, Thursday and Friday at 6:45, Saturday at 4:05 and Sunday at 1:05.

With vibes currently high in the WooSox clubhouse, thanks to a new team pet and players like Mickey Gasper, Chase Meidroth and Nick Yorke all hitting over .300, the Red Sox’ Triple-A club is hoping to head into the All-Star break with a little momentum.

Kind of like how 60 ants are currently chipping away at a feverous pace to build tunnels in Jamie Westbrook’s ant farm located inside the WooSox clubhouse.

“Little second-half ants,” WooSox player Jamie Westbrook said. “Plug and play. Just sit back and watch.”

With Rochester rolling out last year’s No. 2 pick in the MLB Draft in outfielder Dylan Crews, Worcester will counter with top draft picks like Yorke (first round) and Meidroth (fourth round) this week.

And soon, some more highly touted prospects — see: Marcelo Mayer — could be making their way to Triple A.

“He’s knocking on the door to get the call,” Red Sox director of player development Brian Abraham said about Mayer’s pending promotion to Worcester.

But in the meantime, here’s the promotional schedule for the upcoming WooSox homestand at Polar Park:

Tuesday (6:45 p.m.)

Taco & Tequila Tuesday; Jewish Heritage Night.

Wednesday (12:15 p.m.)

First Responders Wednesday; STEM Day; Youth Camp Day; Player Autograph Wednesday featuring two WooSox players postgame in the DCU Club.

Thursday (6:45 p.m.)

Throwback Thursday featuring Red Sox Hall of Famer Bob Stanley who will greet fans for photos and autographs in Sherwood’s Diner between the third and sixth innings; Millbury Town Takeover.

Friday (6:45 p.m.)

Los Wepas de Worcester, honoring Central America; UniBank Fireworks set to the music of Getting’ Jiggy with the 90s.

Saturday (4:05 p.m.)

Free Youth Clinic from 10-11 a.m. on the field at Polar Park featuring WooSox players and coaches; The Great Polar Park Writers Series featuring Boston Globe sports columnist and author Dan Shaughnessy, along with journalist and media personality Mike Barnicle presenting “Hits, Runs, and Errors” — “Following the Red Sox” from 1-2 p.m. in the DCU Club presented by “The McDonough Family Fund;” Leicester Town Takeover; Sunset Catch on the field postgame.

Sunday (1:05 p.m.)

Fallon Health Sunday Funday; Home Run for Life with UMass Memorial Health; Caribbean Heritage Day; Kids Run the Bases.

—Contact Tommy Cassell at tcassell@telegram.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tommycassell44.