Red Sox re-sign pitching prospect Angel Bastardo to minor league contract

The Red Sox have re-signed pitching prospect Angel Bastardo to a minor league contract covering the 2027 season, as first reported by BeisbolFR’s Francys Romero. The deal includes an invitation to major league spring training.

Bastardo is currently regarded as Boston’s No. 15 prospect by Baseball America, ranking fifth among pitchers in the system. The 24-year-old right-hander was slated to reach minor league free agency in the coming days, but will remain with the organization he has spent the better part of his professional career with, at least for the time being.

Originally signed by the Red Sox for $35,000 as an international free agent out of Venezuela in July 2018, Bastardo steadily climbed the organizational ladder as a starter and reached Double-A Portland before undergoing Tommy John surgery in June 2024. He missed the remainder of the season and was then left off Boston’s 40-man roster, prompting the Blue Jays to select him with the sixth overall pick in that winter’s Rule 5 Draft.

Bastardo did not pitch in 2025 while continuing to work his way back from surgery. The hard-throwing righty returned to the mound this spring but did not make Toronto’s Opening Day roster out of camp and was instead designated for assignment in late March. After clearing waivers, he was returned to Boston on April 1 without needing to occupy a spot on the club’s 40-man roster. He then spent a few weeks on the development list before joining Triple-A Worcester on April 21.

In 40 relief appearances for the WooSox this season, Bastardo posted a 4.64 ERA with 73 strikeouts to 33 walks over 54 1/3 innings. Opponents batted .212/.326/.378 against him across 231 plate appearances. That includes a .227/.338/.429 line from right-handed hitters and a .189/.307/.297 line from left-handed hitters.

Among 173 International League pitchers who logged at least 50 innings in 2026, Bastardo ranked sixth in strikeout rate (31.6%), ninth in strikeouts per nine innings (12.09) and swinging-strike rate (14.9%), 19th in xFIP (3.98), 25th in batting average against, 51st in FIP (4.35), 65th in WHIP (1.36) and 82nd in ERA. However, he also ranked 156th in walks per nine innings (5.47), 159th in walk rate (14.3%), and 173rd in line-drive rate (31.7%), according to FanGraphs.

Listed at 6-foot-1 and 175 pounds, Bastardo throws from a three-quarters arm slot and operates with a four-pitch mix. This season, he averaged 96.2 mph and topped out at 99.1 mph with his four-seam fastball. His changeup, long regarded as his best secondary offering, typically sat between 87-91 mph. He also featured an upper-80s slider and an occasional curveball to round things out.

Even after re-signing him to a minor league deal, the Red Sox could once again risk losing Bastardo in this winter’s Rule 5 Draft if they do not protect him by adding him to the 40-man roster in November. Whether the Rule 5 Draft takes place as scheduled remains to be seen, however, given the impending lockout.

The Red Sox could also face similar roster decisions with other prospects nearing minor league free agency, including outfielder Allan Castro and righty Yordanny Monegro, both of whom are currently playing winter ball in their native Dominican Republic.

(Picture of Angel Bastardo: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Who did Red Sox acquire from Athletics for Nate Eaton?

The Red Sox swung a trade with the Athletics on Thursday afternoon, acquiring 18-year-old right-hander Jareth Rayo for outfielder Nate Eaton.

The deal represents the first trade of the offseason, less than 24 hours after the World Series concluded Wednesday night. It also marks the first transaction between Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and Taylor Smith, who spent the past two seasons as an assistant general manager in Boston before taking over as the Athletics’ president of baseball operations last week.

By trading Eaton, who turns 30 in December and will be out of minor league options next year, the Red Sox clear a spot on their 40-man roster and bring in a developmental lottery ticket from the Athletics in Rayo.

A native of Nicaragua, Rayo signed with the A’s for $70,000 as an international free agent last October and made his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League this season. In 11 outings (nine starts) for the DSL Athletics, the 6-foot-3, 195-pound righty posted a 5.50 ERA (5.94 FIP) with 36 strikeouts to 20 walks over 36 innings. Opposing hitters batted .243 against him.

Rayo, who turns 19 in November, was not ranked among the Athletics’ top 30 prospects by Baseball America. According to Baseball America’s Ian Cundall, the young hurler topped out at 94.6 mph with his low-90s fastball this season. He also featured a changeup and slider to round out his three-pitch mix.

Assuming the Red Sox do not move him in another deal this winter, Rayo is a candidate to make his stateside debut in the rookie-level Florida Complex League in 2027.

(Picture of Nate Eaton: Natalie Reid/Getty Images)

How Red Sox OF prospect Will Turner fared in 2026

No Red Sox minor leaguer drew more walks in 2026 than Will Turner. Here is a closer look at the interesting season the 24-year-old outfielder put together.

Turner spent the entire 2026 campaign with Double-A Portland, his first at the level. The left-handed hitter batted .202/.395/.405 with five doubles, one triple, nine home runs, 21 RBIs, 40 runs scored, 13 stolen bases, 50 walks, and 49 strikeouts through his first 55 games (225 plate appearances) before landing on the injured list in late June.

Upon returning to action in early July, Turner slashed .183/.339/.431 with nine doubles, one triple, nine home runs, 20 RBIs, 28 runs scored, five stolen bases, 34 walks, and 54 strikeouts over 44 games (189 plate appearances) to close out the season. He homered four times in his final five games, ending things on a high note.

Overall, Turner hit .193/.369/.417 with 14 doubles, two triples, 18 home runs, 41 RBIs, 68 runs scored, 18 stolen bases, 84 walks, and 103 strikeouts over 99 games and a team-high 414 plate appearances for the Sea Dogs in 2026. He posted a .205/.381/.445 line in 330 plate appearances against right-handed pitching and a .149/.321/.313 line in 84 plate appearances against left-handed pitching.

Among 35 Eastern League hitters who logged at least 400 plate appearances this season, Turner ranked first in walk rate (20.3%), second in swinging-strike rate (7.7%), third in isolated power, sixth in on-base percentage, seventh in wOBA (.358), eighth in wRC+ (112), 12th in OPS (.786), 14th in slugging percentage, and 15th in speed score (6.1). However, he also ranked 26th in strikeout rate (24.9%) and 35th in batting average and BABIP (.219), per FanGraphs.

Defensively, Turner made a habit of flashing the leather in the outfield for Portland. His most memorable moment of the season came on August 22, when he robbed Reading’s Raider Tello of a home run to lead off the third inning by climbing the left-center field fence and making an acrobatic catch at Hadlock Field.

“I got a really good jump on it, and I knew that I was gonna have a chance at it,” Turner told MLB.com’s Tim Crowley. “As I was kind of going towards the wall, I was like, ‘OK, this is gonna carry a little bit, but it’s not gonna go out by that much.’ I kind of took my eye off of the ball and looked at the wall just to make sure that my foot was in the right spot. I turned back, and the ball’s right where I thought it was gonna be, and just brought it down.”

Over the course of the season, Turner saw action at all three outfield spots for the Sea Dogs. The athletic 5-foot-11, 200-pounder made 49 starts in center field, 24 starts in left field, and 18 starts in right field, recording three assists and committing just one error in 200 chances altogether. He also made four starts at DH.

“I’m just so blessed to play, and players make a lot of good plays on a daily basis in the minors and in The Show,” Turner said. “I really take pride in my defense, and it’s always been a big thing for me. I really like taking hits away and doing whatever I can to make sure that happens. I always think robbing home runs is really cool.”

A South Alabama product, Turner saw his draft stock fall during his junior season before the Red Sox selected him in the seventh round (207th overall) of the 2024 draft. He received a below-slot $250,000 signing bonus and made his professional debut with High-A Greenville that August. A broken right hamate bone that required surgery limited him to 52 games between the FCL and Greenville in 2025.

Turner, who turned 24 in September, is not currently ranked among Boston’s top 60 prospects by SoxProspects.com. While the outlet takes note of his solid approach at the plate and athleticism in the outfield, it also describes him as having a “wide range of outcomes” due in part to questions regarding the development of his high-variance hit tool.

Barring a trade or other move this winter, SoxProspects.com projects that Turner will return to Portland to begin the 2027 season. That said, he could push his way to Triple-A Worcester at some point if he makes additional progress at the plate.

(Picture of Will Turner: Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

How Red Sox pitching prospect Devin Futrell fared across three levels in 2026

Only Gage Ziehl and John Holobetz threw more innings than Devin Futrell among Red Sox minor leaguers in 2026. This article will examine how the 24-year-old left-hander fared in his second full professional season.

In part because of the influx of pitching prospects (Kyson Witherspoon, Marcus Phillips, and Anthony Eyanson) selected by Boston in the 2025 draft, Futrell returned to Low-A Salem out of camp this spring despite reaching High-A Greenville last summer. He quickly showed that he had little left to prove at that level, tossing nine scoreless, one-hit innings over two appearances (one start) for the RidgeYaks before rejoining the Drive in mid-April.

“I mostly contribute being locked in so early in the season to my competitiveness,” Futrell told SoxProspects.com’s Andrew Parker in May. “I don’t want to go out there and get shelled. I just want to go out there and make the hitters look bad. Making yourself look better is what’s going to get you to the next level. I just go day in and day out and just try to show the hitters that I am better than them.”

Futrell’s return to Greenville lasted nearly four months. The lefty posted a 4.22 ERA with 85 strikeouts to 14 walks across 15 outings (12 starts) and 74 2/3 innings for the Drive before being promoted to Double-A Portland in early August. In his first taste of the upper minors, he pitched to a 4.55 ERA with 35 strikeouts to just three walks in six starts (31 2/3 innings) for the Sea Dogs down the stretch.

Overall, Futrell forged a 3.98 ERA with 130 strikeouts to 19 walks over 23 outings (19 starts) and 115 1/3 innings between Salem, Greenville, and Portland this season, nearly doubling his inning total from the year prior. Opponents batted .251/.284/.434 against him across 470 plate appearances. That includes a .259/.289/.492 line from right-handed hitters and a .232/.272/.310 line from left-handed hitters.

Among the 50 Red Sox minor leaguers who, regardless of level, logged at least 50 innings in 2026, Futrell ranked second in walks per nine innings (1.48) and walk rate (4%), fifth in WHIP (1.14), ninth in xFIP (3.92), 11th in FIP (3.94), 13th in ERA, and 19th in strikeout rate (27.7%), according to FanGraphs.

Futrell was originally selected by the Red Sox in the 10th round (297th overall) of the 2024 draft out of Vanderbilt. The Florida native received an above-slot $250,000 signing bonus but did not make his professional debut last April. He is currently regarded by SoxProspects.com as Boston’s No. 44 prospect, ranking 18th among pitchers in the organization.

Listed at 6-foot-5 and 218 pounds, Futrell is not known as a flamethrower. This season, the southpaw’s fastball topped out at 91.6 mph and typically sat in the high 80s. He also implemented new secondary offerings into his arsenal, including a cutter, splitter, and sweeper, to keep hitters off balance.

“My lowest-hanging fruit is my velocity,” Futrell noted to Parker. “I know it is a big part of today’s game. But there are still guys out there who get outs, and I am one of those guys. As long as I am working on that and keep pushing up the floor throughout all my pitches, I will get to where I need to be.

“Just recently I decided to switch up my sweeper a little bit,” he continued. “I was chasing the horizontal before, and now I am trying to actually get lift to my sweeper. It is something you don’t usually see with that pitch. Most of them hang around the zero line. I am trying to get mine to like five or ten vert. I want it to ride a bit to hitters. It looks like a slow cutter out of my hand.”

Barring a trade or other move this winter, SoxProspects.com projects that Futrell — who turned 24 in September — will return to Portland’s starting rotation to begin the 2027 season. He will continue to be tested without premium velocity, but his exceptional control gives him intriguing upside.

(Picture of Devin Futrell: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

How Red Sox speedster Braiden Ward fared in 2026

After coming over from the Rockies in an offseason trade, Braiden Ward stole more bases than any other Red Sox minor leaguer in 2026. This article will examine how the 27-year-old speedster fared during the season as a whole.

A former 16th-round draft pick out of Washington in 2021, Ward was acquired from Colorado for left-hander Brennan Bernardino last November. The California native wasted little time in making a positive impression with his new organization.

In his first spring training with Boston, Ward — a non-roster invitee — benefited from the absence of several other outfielders (Wilyer Abreu, Roman Anthony, Jarren Duran, Nate Eaton, and Ceddanne Rafaela) who were away competing in the World Baseball Classic. He made the most of the opportunity, stealing 19 bases in 22 attempts over 27 Grapefruit League games to establish a new spring training record.

Despite the standout spring, Ward did not break camp with the Red Sox in late March. Instead, he reported to Triple-A Worcester, where he would spend the entire minor league campaign. He went on to steal 61 bases in 70 attempts over 109 games for the WooSox, breaking the organization’s single-season Triple-A record while doing so.

Along with the 61 stolen bases, the most for any player at the Triple-A level in 2026, Ward had a solid season at the plate for Worcester. Known for his contact skills, the left-handed hitter batted .251/.364/.373 with 19 doubles, five triples, six home runs, 33 RBIs, 83 runs scored, 39 walks, and 82 strikeouts over a career-high 456 plate appearances. He slashed .239/.348/.365 in 374 plate appearances against righties and .308/.439/.415 in 82 plate appearances against lefties.

Among the 48 hitters who logged at least 450 plate appearances in the International League this year, Ward led in both speed score (9.2) and weighted stolen base runs (6.8). He also ranked 12th in strikeout rate (18%), 15th in on-base percentage, and 20th in swinging-strike rate (9.5%), according to FanGraphs.

Defensively, Ward saw action at all three outfield spots for the WooSox this season. The athletic 5-foot-9, 160-pounder (listed height and weight) made a team-leading 68 starts in center, 22 starts in left, and 15 starts in right. Between the three positions, he recorded five assists without committing an error in 234 total chances spanning 910 2/3 innings.

Following a strong September that included his first career five-hit game in Worcester’s penultimate contest of the season, Ward was summoned by the Red Sox ahead of their Wild Card Series against the Yankees in the Bronx. Although the club considered him for a postseason roster spot as a pinch-running specialist, he ultimately was left off the roster. Had he made the roster and appeared in a game, Ward would have become the first player in franchise history and the seventh in MLB history to make his big league debut during the postseason.

Although he missed out on a chance to make history, Ward’s first season in the Red Sox organization can still be viewed as a successful one. He is not currently ranked among the system’s top prospects, but his game-changing speed could attract some Rule 5 Draft interest this winter if he is not added to Boston’s 40-man roster.

Assuming he remains in the organization, SoxProspects.com projects that Ward — who turns 28 in January — will return to Worcester to begin the 2027 campaign. It would be his final season before he becomes eligible for minor league free agency.

(Picture of Braiden Ward: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

How Red Sox pitching prospect John Holobetz fared in first full season with organization

Behind only Gage Ziehl, John Holobetz threw more innings than any other Red Sox minor leaguer in 2026. This article will take a look at how the 24-year-old right-hander fared in his first full season with the organization.

After first reaching the level last August, Holobetz returned to Double-A Portland out of camp this spring. The righty got off to an encouraging start, posting a 2.45 ERA with 26 strikeouts to six walks in his first four starts (22 innings) for the Sea Dogs through the end of April. He then struggled to a 7.99 ERA over his next six outings (five starts) and 23 2/3 innings before righting the ship in mid-June.

From June 14 through July 23, Holobetz posted a 2.97 ERA with 44 strikeouts to seven walks across seven appearances (six starts) and 33 1/3 innings for Portland. Five days after recording his second double-digit strikeout performance of the season, he was officially promoted to Triple-A Worcester on July 28, reaching the minors’ top level for the first time.

To close out the 2026 campaign, Holobetz made nine appearances (eight starts) for the WooSox, producing a 3.57 ERA with 39 strikeouts to 11 walks over 40 1/3 innings. He ended his season on a high note by striking out eight across 4 1/3 scoreless frames of relief against Durham on September 17.

Overall, then, Holobetz forged a 4.07 ERA with 132 strikeouts (the most among righties in the organization) to 36 walks over 26 outings (23 starts) and 119 1/3 innings between Portland and Worcester this season. Opponents slashed .245/.302/.390 in 502 plate appearances against him. That includes a .218/.256/.325 line from right-handed hitters and a .273/.346/.458 line from left-handed hitters.

Among the 50 Red Sox minor leaguers who, regardless of level, logged at least 50 innings this year, Holobetz ranked seventh in walks per nine (2.72) and walk rate (7.2%), eighth in xFIP (3.87), 12th in WHIP (1.25), 16th in ERA and FIP (4.05), 21st in groundball rate (44.6%), 23rd in swinging-strike rate (13%), 24th in batting average against, and 25th in strikeout rate (26.3%), according to FanGraphs.

Holobetz, a former fifth-round draft pick (156th overall) of the Brewers out of Old Dominion in 2024, was acquired by the Red Sox last May as the player to be named later in the Quinn Priester trade made a month earlier. The Pennsylvania native is currently regarded as Boston’s No. 9 prospect by Baseball America, MLB Pipeline, and SoxProspects.com. All three outlets rank him third among pitchers in the organization behind young righties Juan Valera and Sadbiel Delzine.

Listed at 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, Holobetz throws from a lower release point and features a five-pitch mix. This season, he got up to 98.2 mph with his fastball that typically sits in the mid-to-upper 90s. He also mixed in an upper-80s cutter and changeup, along with a lower-80s curveball and sweeper. While his heater grades well, his secondary offerings are still considered works in progress.

Barring a trade or other move this winter, SoxProspects.com projects that Holobetz — who will not turn 25 until next July — will return to Worcester’s rotation to start the 2027 season. Like Ziehl, though, his ability to fill the strike zone, miss bats, and limit walks could put him on track for his first major league call-up sooner rather than later.

(Picture of John Holobetz: Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

How Red Sox pitching prospect Gage Ziehl fared in 2026 after ‘crazy’ trade

After coming over from the White Sox in a February trade, Gage Ziehl made more starts and pitched more innings than any other Red Sox minor leaguer in 2026. This article will take a look at how the 23-year-old right-hander fared during his first season with the organization.

Acquired from Chicago for fellow righties Jordan Hicks and David Sandlin (as well as cash considerations), Ziehl opened the 2026 campaign at Double-A Portland but got off to a rocky start. He struggled to a 5.94 ERA through his first seven starts (33 1/3 innings) for the Sea Dogs before turning a corner as the calendar flipped from May to June.

From May 31 onward, Ziehl posted a 3.21 ERA with 61 strikeouts to 11 walks in his next 10 starts (47 2/3 innings) for Portland before being promoted to Triple-A Worcester on August 4. He then closed out an eventful season by pitching to a 4.17 ERA with 33 strikeouts to seven walks over eight starts (41 innings) for the WooSox in his first go-around at the minors’ highest level.

Altogether, then, Ziehl forged a 4.28 ERA with 129 strikeouts to just 25 walks in 25 starts (122 innings) between Portland and Worcester. Opponents batted .269/.314/.448 against him. That includes a .287/.342/.502 line from right-handed hitters and a .249/.283/.391 line from left-handed hitters.

In addition to leading Red Sox minor leaguers in starts and innings pitched, Ziehl stood out in several other categories as well. Among the 50 pitchers in the organization who threw at least 50 innings this season, the righty ranked third in walks per nine (1.84) and walk rate (4.8%), fifth in groundball rate (52.1%) and xFIP (3.71), 15th in WHIP (1.27), 17th in ERA, and 21st in FIP (4.28), according to FanGraphs.

A University of Miami product, Ziehl was originally selected by the Yankees in the fourth round (119th overall) of the 2024 draft. He received a $637,000 signing bonus and made his professional debut last April before being traded to the White Sox for Austin Slater less than four months later. In February, as he was preparing for the start of spring training, he was on the move yet again.

“The whole trade experience here was a bit crazy,” Ziehl recalled to SoxProspects.com’s Andrew Parker in August. “I trained in Florida over the offseason and had already shipped my car to Arizona for White Sox camp. I was about to board my connecting flight to Arizona when I got a call asking if I had already booked a flight out. I had already boarded and [was] on the runway when I got a call from the assistant general manager from Chicago saying I had been traded. I couldn’t get off the plane by this point. So, I made my flight, shipped my car to Fort Myers, and was there the next day.”

Since joining the Red Sox organization, Ziehl has worked to lower his arm slot and revamp his diverse arsenal. This season, the 6-foot, 223-pound hurler featured a six-pitch mix consisting of a newly implemented 85-88 mph changeup and 90-94 mph sinker, as well as a 91-93 mph fastball that topped out at 95 mph, an 88-91 mph cutter, an 82-84 mph sweeper, and a 79-80 mph curveball.

On the heels of his second full professional season, Ziehl is currently ranked as Boston’s No. 17 prospect by MLB Pipeline and No. 21 by SoxProspects.com. Baseball America, meanwhile, does not include him among the organization’s top 30 prospects.

Barring a trade or other move this winter, SoxProspects.com projects that Ziehl — who will not turn 24 until next May — will return to Worcester to begin the 2027 season. Given his ability to fill the strike zone, limit walks, and get outs, however, there is reason to believe he could earn a big league opportunity with the Red Sox at some point.

(Picture of Gage Ziehl: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

How Red Sox OF prospect Andrews Opata earned organization’s 2026 Minor League Baserunner of the Year award

Shortly after wrapping up his first full professional season, Red Sox outfield prospect Andrews Opata was selected as the organization’s 2026 Minor League Baserunner of the Year.

Opata joined the Red Sox organization as an undrafted free agent out of Division II North Georgia last July after earning 2025 Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year honors. Rather than transfer to Division I Kennesaw State for what would have been his senior season, the Lawrenceville native elected to go pro, signing with Boston for $75,000.

“I was just thinking whatever happens, happens,” Opata recalled to MassLive.com’s Christopher Smith last month at Fenway Park. “If I don’t get drafted or signed, I’ll just go to Kennesaw State. But I was talking with my agent, and he was talking with the Red Sox, and he was pretty sure that the Red Sox were going to be the team to pick me up. It was just kind of a matter of when.

“Being around the people who have developed some of those guys that are playing in Boston right now is just something that I want to be a part of,” Opata added.

Though he signed last summer, Opata did not make his professional debut until early April, when he broke camp with Low-A Salem. The 22-year-old speedster spent the entire 2026 campaign with the RidgeYaks, setting a modern franchise record (since 2004) with 54 stolen bases in 62 attempts.

In addition to leading Salem in stolen bases and ranking second in the Carolina League and Red Sox organization in that category, Opata put together a solid season at the plate, particularly after the All-Star break. Over his final 34 games from July 17 through the end of the year, the right-handed hitter batted .289/.411/.491 with six doubles, one triple, five home runs, 26 RBIs, 31 runs scored, 22 walks, and 32 strikeouts over 141 plate appearances.

Overall, Opata slashed .257/.374/.404 with 15 doubles, three triples, 11 home runs, 56 RBIs, 81 runs scored, 65 walks, and 126 strikeouts across 103 games (444 plate appearances) for the RidgeYaks in 2026. He posted a .265/.372/.367 line in 347 plate appearances against righties and a .227/.381/.547 line in 97 plate appearances against lefties.

Opata was one of 32 hitters to log at least 400 plate appearances in the Carolina League this year. Among those 32, he led in both speed score (8.5) and wSB (5.9). He also ranked 10th in on-base percentage, OPS (.778), walk rate (14.6%), and wOBA (.374), 11th in batting average, 13th in slugging percentage and wRC+ (108), and 15th in isolated power (.146), according to FanGraphs.

Defensively, Opata saw most of his action with Salem in the corner outfield spots. The athletic 6-foot-2, 200-pounder made 64 starts in left field and 38 starts in right field for the RidgeYaks, committing four errors and recording six assists across 210 chances over 880 innings between the two positions. He also made one start at DH.

“Speed is a big part of my game, but I can also do stuff in the box and on defense, too,” Opata told Smith. “I try and pride myself on being as best of a five-tool player as I can possibly be. I try to get on, steal bases — but hitting home runs and hitting doubles is also fun, too. So I try to do that and do whatever I can to do it for the team ultimately is what I try to do.”

Opata, who turns 23 in December, is not ranked among Boston’s top prospects by publications such as Baseball America, MLB Pipeline, or SoxProspects.com. Barring a trade or other move this winter, SoxProspects.com projects that he will make the jump to High-A Greenville to begin the 2027 campaign.

Looking ahead to the offseason, Opata told Smith that he was pleased with how he adjusted to professional pitching and held up physically over the course of 103 games.

“Going into the offseason, I’m working mainly on my ball flight and my bat-to-ball skills to cut down on the strikeouts,” Opata said. “Ultimately … get a little bit more launch angle and some of that so I can turn some of those singles and doubles that I’m hitting into homers.”

(Picture of Andrews Opata: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

How Red Sox prospect Ronny Hernandez emerged as power threat in first season with organization

Despite playing in just 67 games this season, Red Sox catching/first base prospect Ronny Hernandez established himself as one of the organization’s most productive hitters.

Acquired from the White Sox for left-hander Chris Murphy last November, Hernandez enjoyed a power surge in his first season in the Red Sox system, more than doubling his career home run total during his time with High-A Greenville.

Due to a right quadriceps strain suffered late in camp, Hernandez stayed behind in Fort Myers for extended spring training before being activated from the injured list by Greenville on May 5. The 21-year-old made his organizational debut against Greensboro the following morning and had a day to remember, going 4-for-4 with a pair of solo home runs and a walk.

From there, Hernandez continued to produce. In 67 games for the Drive overall, the left-handed hitter batted a stout .304/.407/.548 with 11 doubles, a career-high 15 home runs, 45 RBIs, 50 runs scored, and as many walks as strikeouts (40) over 275 plate appearances. He slashed .308/.408/.593 in 218 plate appearances against righties and .292/.404/.375 in 57 plate appearances against lefties.

Among the 100 hitters in the South Atlantic League who logged at least 250 plate appearances in 2026, Hernandez ranked second in strikeout rate (14.5%), fourth in OPS (.955), fifth in wOBA (.421), sixth in batting average and wRC+ (141), ninth in on-base percentage, 10th in slugging percentage, 14th in swinging-strike rate (8.9%), 17th in isolated power (.243) and walk rate (14.5%), and 24th in line-drive rate (25%), according to FanGraphs.

Defensively, Hernandez split his playing time with Greenville between catcher and first base. In 22 starts behind the plate, the 6-foot-1, 200-pounder allowed one passed ball and threw out just four of 79 would-be base stealers. In 34 starts at first base, he committed just one error in 221 chances. He also made 11 starts at DH.

Hernandez originally signed with the White Sox for $30,000 as an international free agent in June 2022. The Venezuelan native made his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League shortly thereafter before arriving stateside in 2023, when he was named an Arizona Complex League All-Star. He then spent the next two seasons with Chicago’s Low-A affiliate ahead of last November’s trade to Boston.

The Red Sox, as The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier noted back in May, “acquired Hernandez believing he made good swing decisions with strong bat-to-ball skills, with a chance for offensive impact if he could add bat speed.”

Greenville hitting coach Jarrett Pico echoed that sentiment in a separate conversation with MassLive.com’s Christopher Smith earlier this summer.

“He’s always been a pretty good hitter in the minor leagues,” Pico said, “and he’s kind of been able to tap into some more power this year, which has been really awesome — and obviously something I think we identified could be some low-hanging fruit for him moving into this year.

“It wasn’t too much (bat) path or anything,” added Pico, noting that the Red Sox did not need to overhaul Hernandez’s swing. “I think it was more of an approach mindset for him. In January, when he got to Fort Myers, it was like, ‘This swing looks pretty good. It’s going to play.’ And I think it was more just of an approach mindset for him, and kind of shifting that mindset in terms of he’s obviously a guy who makes a lot of contact and makes a lot of good decisions and just kind of trying to do a little bit more damage.”

Hernandez, who turns 22 next month, is not currently ranked among Boston’s top prospects by publications such as Baseball America, MLB Pipeline, or SoxProspects.com. He can become Rule-5 eligible for the first time this winter if he is not added to the Red Sox’ 40-man roster by the upcoming protection deadline, though the looming threat of a lockout clouds the situation.

Regardless, the likelihood of Hernandez being protected appears low given that he has yet to play above the High-A level. If he remains in the organization through the winter, SoxProspects.com projects Hernandez to make the jump to Double-A Portland to begin the 2027 season.

(Picture of Ronny Hernandez: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

How versatile Red Sox prospect Tyler McDonough put together 20-20 season in 2026

Across Minor League Baseball in 2026, an astounding 59 players recorded 20-20 seasons, hitting at least 20 home runs and stealing at least 20 bases.

Of those 59, however, only one spent the entire season in the Red Sox organization: 27-year-old utilityman Tyler McDonough.

McDonough, Boston’s third-round pick in the 2021 draft out of North Carolina State, received his first non-roster invite to major league camp this spring and opened his fifth full professional season at Double-A Portland. The switch-hitter spent the first two months of the 2026 campaign with the Sea Dogs, batting .217/.353/.378 with seven doubles, two triples, four home runs, 16 RBIs, 23 runs scored, 14 stolen bases, 27 walks, and 55 strikeouts over 44 games (175 plate appearances) before being summoned to Triple-A Worcester in early June.

Having spent parts of 2023-2024 and all of 2025 with Worcester, McDonough was no stranger to Triple-A. He excelled during his first stint with the WooSox this season, slashing .310/.425/.621 with six doubles, seven home runs, 22 RBIs, 22 runs scored, five stolen bases, 15 walks, and 23 strikeouts over 31 games (107 plate appearances) through July 26. Two days later, he was sent back down to Portland.

McDonough continued to hit for power in his return to the Sea Dogs’ lineup, batting .248/.374/.505 with four doubles, eight home runs, 27 RBIs, 20 runs scored, seven stolen bases, 17 walks, and 32 strikeouts over his next 30 games (131 plate appearances) before rejoining the WooSox in early September. He then slashed .229/.289/.343 with one double, one home run, three RBIs, four runs scored, one stolen base, three walks, and 10 strikeouts in his final 10 games (38 plate appearances) of the season.

Despite the chilly finish, it was nonetheless a breakthrough campaign for McDonough, whose previous career high in homers was nine. Altogether, he batted .249/.371/.468 with 18 doubles, two triples, 20 home runs, 68 RBIs, 69 runs scored, a career-best 27 stolen bases, 62 walks, and 120 strikeouts in 115 games (451 plate appearances) between Portland and Worcester. That includes a .230/.367/.442 line against right-handed pitching and a .308/.382/.549 line against left-handers.

Among the 10 Red Sox minor leaguers who, regardless of level, logged at least 450 plate appearances this season, McDonough ranked second in isolated power (.219), OPS (.839), slugging percentage, speed score (6.9), walk rate (13.7%), and wRC+ (121), third in wOBA (.374), and fourth in on-base percentage, according to FanGraphs.

Defensively, McDonough once again bounced around the diamond, seeing action at every position besides catcher and first base this year. Between his stops in Portland and Worcester, the versatile 5-foot-8, 180-pounder made 39 starts at second base, 25 starts in left field, 19 starts in right field, 10 starts at third base, seven starts in center field, and four starts at shortstop.

In the infield, McDonough committed eight errors in 209 chances. In the outfield, he recorded five assists and committed five errors in 106 chances. He also made two starts at DH and made his first professional pitching appearance in May.

Coming off his 20-20 season, McDonough was named a SoxProspects.com All-Star for the first time earlier this week. The Ohio native is not currently ranked among the site’s top 60 Red Sox prospects, though he could generate Rule 5 Draft buzz this winter if he is not added to the club’s 40-man roster.

Assuming he remains in the organization, McDonough — who will turn 28 in April — is projected by SoxProspects.com to return to Worcester in 2027. As things stand, next season will be his last before he becomes eligible for minor league free agency.

(Picture of Tyler McDonough [center]: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)