How former Red Sox pitching prospect Ben Hansen is faring since trade to A’s

With the Red Sox designating Brett Harris for assignment as part of a flurry of roster moves on Tuesday, it feels like an appropriate time to check in on the prospect Boston traded to the Athletics for the infielder two months ago.

On July 1, the Red Sox acquired Harris from the A’s for minor league right-hander Ben Hansen, whom Boston originally selected in the 20th and final round of the 2024 draft out of Brigham Young. At the time of the trade, he was not ranked among the organization’s top pitching prospects.

Hansen, who had spent all of 2026 to that point with High-A Greenville, reported to the Athletics’ High-A affiliate in Lansing and made his organizational debut on July 3. The 24-year-old made five appearances (one start) for the Lugnuts, allowing two earned runs on six hits, two walks, and nine strikeouts over 8 1/3 innings before being promoted to Double-A Midland on July 22.

In eight outings (three starts) for the RockHounds since then, Hansen has posted a 2.70 ERA with 31 strikeouts to 14 walks across 30 innings in which he has limited opponents to a .183 batting average. The righty was recognized as the Texas League Pitcher of the Week after striking out nine over 5 1/3 scoreless, no-hit frames of relief on August 23. He then followed that up by firing a career-high six innings of one-run ball on Sunday.

Among 149 pitchers who have thrown at least 30 innings in the Texas League this season, Hansen has the sixth-lowest FIP (3.20), the 10th-lowest ERA, the 12th-lowest opponents’ batting average, and the 15th-lowest WHIP (1.10). He also ranks 56th in xFIP (4.66), 62nd in groundball rate (44.6%), and 68th in both strikeout rate (25.6%) and walks per nine (4.20), according to FanGraphs.

Overall, Hansen has forged a 3.71 ERA (3.88 FIP) with 92 strikeouts to 30 walks over 26 outings (six starts) and 80 innings across two High-A stops (Greenville and Lansing) and Double-A this season. That represents an improvement from the 6.23 ERA (4.56 FIP) he logged in 60 2/3 innings with Low-A Salem during his professional debut last year.

Listed at 6-foot-6 and 210 pounds, Hansen gets good extension on his delivery. As Baseball America’s Ian Cundall noted in July, the California-born hurler operates with a 92-96 mph fastball that “plays above velocity” and “misses bats,” though it can be inconsistent. He also features a 76-78 mph curveball, a cutter, a sweeper, and a changeup.

As was the case during his time in the Red Sox system, Hansen — who does not turn 25 until next March — is not yet ranked among the Athletics’ premier pitching prospects. He is, however, expected to be part of the contingent the club send to the Arizona Fall League later this year, per Bill Moriarty of A’s Farm.

Coincidentally, prospects from both the Athletics and Red Sox organizations will be assigned to the same team this fall: the Mesa Solar Sox, potentially giving Hansen an opportunity to cross paths with some of his former teammates.

(Picture of Ben Hansen courtesy of the Midland RockHounds)

Red Sox’ Johanfran Garcia named Eastern League Player of the Week for second time this season

Red Sox catching prospect Johanfran Garcia has been named the Eastern League Player of the Week for the week of August 24-30, Minor League Baseball announced on Monday.

Garcia earns his second Eastern League Player of the Week award this season after previously receiving the honor in June. This time, the 21-year-old slugger made his mark during Double-A Portland’s latest road series against the Richmond Flying Squirrels.

Appearing in four of the Sea Dogs’ six games at Richmond’s CarMax Park, Garcia went 10-for-18 (.556) with three home runs, eight RBIs, six runs scored, two walks, and four strikeouts. The right-handed hitter recorded at least three hits in three of those four contests, including Saturday’s 14-3 win, when he homered twice and drove in a career-high six runs. He followed that effort by going deep yet again in Sunday’s series finale.

Garcia, who did not make his 2026 debut until late April after beginning the year in extended spring training, is putting the finishing touches on a productive season with Portland. In 72 games for the Sea Dogs, he is batting .293/.342/.503 with 10 doubles, a career-best 17 home runs, 51 RBIs, 40 runs scored, three stolen bases, 17 walks, and 89 strikeouts over 313 plate appearances. He has posted a .294/.341/.502 line in 249 plate appearances against righties and a .288/.344/.508 line in 64 plate appearances against lefties.

Among 71 hitters who have made at least 300 trips to the plate in the Eastern League this season, Garcia ranks seventh in batting average, 10th in slugging percentage, 13th in OPS (.845), 15th in wOBA (.369), 18th in wRC+ (119), 22nd in isolated power (.210), 32nd in line-drive rate (23%), and 34th in on-base percentage. On the downside, he ranks 54th in strikeout rate (28.4%) and 68th in walk rate (5.4%), according to FanGraphs.

Defensively, Garcia has seen most of his playing time with Portland come at catcher. In 47 starts behind the plate for the Sea Dogs, the stocky 5-foot-11 backstop has allowed three passed balls and committed nine errors in 519 chances while throwing out 25 of 101 would-be base stealers. He has also made 25 starts at DH and has prior, albeit limited, experience at first base.

The younger brother of former Red Sox-turned-Pirates outfielder Jhostynxon “The Password” Garcia, Johanfran (aptly nicknamed “The Username”) originally signed with Boston for $850,000 as an international free agent in January 2022. The native Venezuelan got his professional career off to an encouraging start, making positive impressions in the Dominican Summer League and Florida Complex League before tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while running the bases with Low-A Salem in May 2024. He required season-ending surgery and missed a year’s worth of action as a result. Upon returning to the field last May, he homered 12 times in 58 games between the FCL and High-A Greenville, then headed out west for a stint in the Arizona Fall League.

With the 2026 campaign nearly in the books, Garcia currently ranks as Boston’s No. 29 prospect by MLB Pipeline. Baseball America does not rank him among the organization’s top 30 after having him at No. 27 to begin the year, while SoxProspects.com has him at No. 35 in the system. All three outlets laud Garcia’s plus raw power and solid arm strength, but also express concerns about his aggressive approach at the plate and conditioning.

While the threat of a lockout could change things, as it did in 2021, Garcia — who turns 22 in December — can become Rule 5-eligible for the first time this winter if he is not added to Boston’s 40-man roster by the November protection deadline. With that in mind, the Red Sox may want to give Garcia a brief look at Triple-A Worcester before the season draws to a close.

(Picture of Johanfran Garcia: Brandon Sloter/Getty Images)

Checking in on Red Sox prospect Jose Bello, last holdover from Rafael Devers trade

With Rafael Devers returning to Fenway Park this weekend, it feels like an appropriate time to check in on the lone player the Red Sox acquired from the Giants in last June’s blockbuster trade who remains in the organization.

That would be 21-year-old right-hander Jose Bello, whom Boston obtained from San Francisco alongside pitchers Kyle Harrison and Jordan Hicks and first baseman/outfielder James Tibbs III. The Red Sox have since dealt Harrison to the Brewers, Hicks to the White Sox, and Tibbs to the Dodgers in three separate trades involving other players.

As previously stated, this article will focus on Bello, who is not currently ranked among Boston’s top pitching prospects by Baseball America, MLB Pipeline, or SoxProspects.com. The young righty has dealt with shoulder issues to begin his first full season in the organization, requiring stints on Low-A Salem’s injured list in April and June. When on the mound, though, he has posted a 3.92 ERA with 43 strikeouts to 31 walks across 17 outings (10 starts) spanning 62 innings for the RidgeYaks.

While opposing hitters have slashed .264/.366/.405 in 266 plate appearances against Bello, his 52.2% groundball rate ranks eighth among Carolina League pitchers who have thrown at least 60 innings this season, according to FanGraphs.

Listed at 6-foot-1 and 164 pounds (but likely heavier), Bello throws from a three-quarters arm slot and features a 92-94 mph fastball that can reach 96 mph, a 90-92 mph cutter, an 83-86 mph slider, and an 82-86 mph changeup. SoxProspects.com notes that his arsenal and size “point towards the bullpen long-term,” while FanGraphs describes him as looking “more like a moldable arm than a guy tracking for any particular kind of defined, impact role.”

Bello originally signed with the Giants for $47,500 as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in January 2023. The Santo Domingo native made his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League, spending parts of three seasons there and in the Arizona Complex League before being traded to the Red Sox last June. He then split the remainder of the 2025 campaign between the Florida Complex League and Salem.

Since making the jump from rookie ball last July, Bello owns a 3.69 ERA with 60 strikeouts to 40 walks over 24 outings (14 starts) and 85 2/3 innings at the Low-A level. He is scheduled to make his next start for Salem in Sunday’s series finale against Wilson. After that, it remains to be seen whether he can work his way up to High-A Greenville before the season ends.

(Picture of Rafael Devers: Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images)

Red Sox promote pitching prospect Barrett Morgan to High-A Greenville

The Red Sox have promoted pitching prospect Barrett Morgan from Low-A Salem to High-A Greenville, per the MiLB.com transactions log.

Morgan is currently regarded by SoxProspects.com as Boston’s No. 39 prospect, ranking 15th among pitchers in the organization. The 21-year-old right-hander is in his first full professional season after being selected in the 11th round (328th overall) of last summer’s draft out of Cowley College (KS). Instead of transferring to Texas A&M, he signed with the Red Sox for an above-slot $500,000 bonus.

Morgan did not pitch for an affiliate after signing, instead debuting with Salem in early April. In 13 outings (nine starts) for the RidgeYaks, he posted a 2.74 ERA with 46 strikeouts to 18 walks over 46 innings. Opposing Carolina League hitters slashed .176/.258/.242 in 187 plate appearances against him.

After leaving his June 23 start against Myrtle Beach early, Morgan was placed on Salem’s 7-day injured list. The righty rehabbed in Fort Myers before returning to the RidgeYaks earlier this month. He last pitched on August 15, allowing one unearned run on one hit, one walk, and two strikeouts over two innings of relief against Delmarva.

Entering play Wednesday, Morgan was one of 102 pitchers who have thrown at least 45 innings in the Carolina League this season. Among those 102, he ranked fourth in batting average against, sixth in WHIP (1.02), eighth in FIP (3.18), 12th in line-drive rate (19%), 13th in ERA, 32nd in walks per nine (3.52), 36th in walk rate (9.6%), 40th in swinging-strike rate (12.4%), 43rd in strikeout rate (24.6%), and 51st in xFIP (4.43), according to FanGraphs.

Listed at 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, Morgan throws from a high-three-quarters arm slot and incorporates a high leg kick into his delivery. As noted in his SoxProspects.com scouting report, the Oklahoma-born hurler features a 92-95 mph fastball that has been up to 97 mph, an 87-89 mph cutter, a 79-83 mph curveball, and an 82-83 mph changeup.

Morgan, who does not turn 22 until next March, is the fourth pitcher from his draft class to make the jump from Salem to Greenville this season, joining eighth-rounder Dylan Brown, ninth-rounder Jacob Mayers, and 16th-rounder Jason Gilman. He should provide the playoff-hopeful Drive with additional pitching depth from the right side down the stretch.

(Picture of Barrett Morgan: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox to promote top prospect Justin Gonzales to Double-A Portland

The Red Sox are promoting top outfield prospect Justin Gonzales from High-A Greenville to Double-A Portland, as first reported by Mike Rodriguez of Rompiendo Sports.

Gonzales is moving up to the upper minors after recording his first professional multi-homer game in Greenville’s 10-5 win over Hub City on Sunday. The 19-year-old slugger is experiencing a power surge, having already nearly doubled his career home run total entering 2026, and is being rewarded for it.

In 89 games for Greenville this season, Gonzales batted .271/.391/.463 with 12 doubles, two triples, 17 home runs, 58 RBIs, 68 runs scored, 11 stolen bases, 56 walks, and 79 strikeouts over 422 plate appearances. The right-handed hitter slashed .248/.368/.445 in 348 plate appearances against righties and .383/.500/.550 in 74 plate appearances against lefties.

Among 65 qualified hitters in the South Atlantic League, Gonzales ranks eighth in on-base percentage, ninth in wOBA (.389), 10th in wRC+ (121), 12th in OPS (.854), 13th in swinging-strike rate (10%), 15th in batting average and strikeout rate (18.7%), 17th in slugging percentage, 19th in walk rate (13.3%), 27th in isolated power (.191), and 31st in line-drive rate (23.7%), according to FanGraphs.

Defensively, Gonzales saw the majority of his playing time with Greenville come in right field. Making 70 starts there, the hulking 6-foot-6, 277-pounder committed four errors and recorded seven assists in 130 chances. He also made seven starts at first base, where he committed one error in 44 chances, one error-free start in center field, and 11 starts at DH.

A native of the Dominican Republic, Gonzales originally signed with the Red Sox for $250,000 as an international free agent in January 2024. He was named a Dominican Summer League All-Star and the organization’s Latin Program Position Player of the Year in his professional debut, then made the jump stateside in 2025. After appearing in just one Florida Complex League game last May, he moved up to Low-A Salem — where he was recognized as a Carolina League Post-Season All-Star — and ultimately to Greenville to close out the campaign.

Gonzales, who does not turn 20 until December, is currently regarded by Baseball America, MLB Pipeline, and SoxProspects.com as Boston’s No. 2 prospect behind only infielder Franklin Arias. He briefly cracked Baseball America’s Top 100 earlier this season, but has since fallen out of the rankings. MLB Pipeline, on the other hand, ranks him as the No. 79 prospect in the sport.

In Portland, Gonzales will join a roster that includes other notable prospects such as Johanfran Garcia, Brooks Brannon, Mason White, Jack Winnay, Henry Godbout, Miguel Bleis, and Yoeilin Cespedes. The Sea Dogs are also expected to welcome Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony for a rehab assignment beginning Tuesday, when they open a six-game series against Reading at Hadlock Field.

(Picture of Justin Gonzales: John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Red Sox catching prospect Franklin Primera named Carolina League Player of the Week

Red Sox catching prospect Franklin Primera has been named the Carolina League Player of the Week for the week of August 10-16, Minor League Baseball announced on Monday.

Primera appeared in all six of Low-A Salem’s road games against Delmarva this past week, going 9-for-19 (.474) with one double, one triple, one home run, three RBIs, six runs scored, one stolen base, five walks, and one strikeout. The 19-year-old recorded two hits in Tuesday’s series opener, tripled in a four-hit effort on Wednesday, doubled on Friday, homered on Saturday, and scored three times on Sunday.

Since arriving at Salem from the rookie-level Florida Complex League in late June, Primera has not missed a beat. In his first taste of full-season ball, the right-handed hitter is batting .333/.474/.509 with eight doubles, one triple, three home runs, 12 RBIs, 28 runs scored, one stolen base, 19 walks, and 17 strikeouts over 31 games (137 plate appearances) for the RidgeYaks.

Among 171 hitters who have logged at least 130 plate appearances in the Carolina League this year, Primera ranks first in on-base percentage, third in wOBA (.467), fourth in batting average and wRC+ (165), fifth in OPS (.983), ninth in strikeout rate (12.4%), 12th in slugging percentage, 27th in swinging-strike rate (8.3%), 48th in isolated power (.176), and 75th in walk rate (13.9%), according to FanGraphs.

Overall, Primera is slashing a stout .379/.511/.611 with 14 doubles, one triple, 11 home runs, 41 RBIs, 58 runs scored, five stolen bases, 41 walks, and 30 strikeouts in 63 games (271 plate appearances) between the FCL and Salem this season, his first in the United States. He has posted a .390/.523/.663 line in 222 plate appearances against right-handed pitching and a .333/.458/.385 line in 49 plate appearances against left-handed pitching across the two levels.

Between his stops in the FCL and Salem, Primera has unsurprisingly seen the majority of his playing time come at the catching position. In 41 total starts behind the plate, the 6-foot, 230-pound backstop has allowed seven passed balls and thrown out 25 of 146 would-be base stealers. He has also made eight starts at first base (all in the FCL, where he committed one error in 50 chances) and 13 starts at DH.

A native of Venezuela, Primera originally signed with the Red Sox for $10,000 as an international free agent in September 2024. He made his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League last season and shined, earning DSL All-Star and All-Star Game Co-MVP recognition. This year, he has shown no signs of slowing down even while acclimating to life stateside, as evidenced by his taking home FCL Player of the Month honors for June and reaching Salem as a teenager.

Primera, who turned 19 in June, is currently ranked by Baseball America as Boston’s No. 3 prospect behind only infielder Franklin Arias and outfielder Justin Gonzales. The publication also identified Primera as the top talent to play in the Florida Complex League this season, tabbing him as the circuit’s “purest hitter” thanks to “improved bat speed and sound swing decisions.”

“Defensively,” Baseball America’s Josh Norris wrote last month, “evaluators are bearish on Primera’s chances to stick behind the dish. He’s already big and physical, and will need to stay on top of his conditioning as he ages. For now, he has the arm strength for the position but will need to work on most of the rest of the required skills, including receiving, game-calling, footwork, and blocking.”

Primera is the second Salem position player to earn a weekly award this season, joining outfielder Enddy Azocar, who was dealt to the Orioles as part of the Adley Rutschman trade earlier this month. With the minor league season winding down, it will be interesting to see if the Red Sox could consider promoting Primera to High-A Greenville for the stretch run.

(Picture of Franklin Primera: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox sign local product Morgan McSweeney to minor league contract

The Red Sox signed free-agent right-hander Morgan McSweeney to a minor league contract on Wednesday. He struggled in his organizational debut for Double-A Portland, surrendering five earned runs on five hits (including one home run), no walks, and three strikeouts over two innings of relief.

McSweeney returns to affiliated ball after spending the first part of the 2026 season abroad in the Chinese Professional Baseball League. The 28-year-old made nine appearances (eight starts) for the Rakuten Monkeys, posting a 5.08 ERA with 21 strikeouts to 24 walks over 44 1/3 innings before being released in late June.

A Hudson, Mass. native and Worcester Academy product, McSweeney was originally selected by the Orioles in the 17th round (498th overall) of the 2019 draft out of Wake Forest. The righty received a $125,000 signing bonus and spent five-plus years in the organization without reaching the majors, instead peaking at Triple-A Norfolk before he was cut loose by Baltimore in July 2024.

McSweeney spent the next 11 months between Gastonia and Staten Island of the independent Atlantic League before his contract was purchased by the Marlins last June. From there, he pitched to a 2.21 ERA with 42 strikeouts to 23 walks across 13 appearances (12 starts) spanning 61 innings for Triple-A Jacksonville to close out his 2025 campaign. He elected free agency in November and signed with Rakuten in December.

Following Wednesday’s rough outing in Portland, McSweeney now owns a lifetime 3.77 ERA with 237 strikeouts to 123 walks over 151 career appearances (12 starts) and 241 1/3 innings in the minors. Stuff-wise, the 6-foot-4, 210-pound hurler features a lower-90s fastball that has reached 93 mph, a cutter, a slider, a changeup, a curveball, and a sinker.

McSweeney, who turns 29 next month, will presumably provide Boston with additional upper-minors pitching depth between Portland and Triple-A Worcester down the stretch this season. He is the third arm the Red Sox have brought in via minor-league contract in the last week, joining veteran righty John Brebbia and former Yankees farmhand Aaron Nixon.

(Picture of Morgan McSweeney: Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

Red Sox promote pitching prospect Jedixson Paez to Triple-A Worcester

The Red Sox have promoted pitching prospect Jedixson Paez from Double-A Portland to Triple-A Worcester, as first reported by SoxProspects.com’s Andrew Parker. He is scheduled to start for the WooSox and make his Triple-A debut on Thursday, according to The Worcester Telegram & Gazette’s Tommy Cassell.

Paez began the 2026 season with the White Sox after being selected by them in December’s Rule 5 Draft. The 22-year-old right-hander made Chicago’s Opening Day roster but struggled in three relief appearances, allowing six earned runs on four hits (including two home runs), three walks, and no strikeouts over three innings. He was designated for assignment on April 1 and returned to the Red Sox for $50,000 three days later.

Having never pitched above the High-A level before this season, it is not surprising that Paez had a rough time in his brief major league debut with the White Sox. After returning to the Red Sox, he reported to Portland and put together a solid four-month stretch leading up to Wednesday’s promotion.

In 17 appearances (seven starts) for the Sea Dogs, Paez posted a 4.41 ERA and 3.78 FIP with 56 strikeouts to just five walks over 49 innings. Eastern League opponents slashed .241/.264/.417 in 193 plate appearances against him. He has proven particularly effective when facing right-handed hitters, limiting them to a .233/.255/.388 line across the majors and minors this year.

Among 92 pitchers who entered play Wednesday having thrown at least 45 innings in the Eastern League this season, Paez ranked first in swinging-strike rate (19.3%), walks per nine (0.92), and walk rate (2.6%), third in xFIP (3.25), fifth in WHIP (1.02), 15th in strikeout rate (29%), 18th in FIP, 29th in groundball rate (46.2%), 31st in strikeouts per nine (10.29), and 38th in batting average against and ERA, per FanGraphs.

Originally signed for $450,000 as an international free agent out of Venezuela in January 2021, Paez is currently regarded by Baseball America as Boston’s No. 22 prospect, which ranks eighth among the organization’s pitchers. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound righty has made a name for himself thanks to a strong command-and-control profile. Stuff-wise, he features a 91-92 mph fastball that reaches 94 mph, an upper-80s cutter, a mid-80s changeup, a lower-80s slider, and an upper-70s curveball.

Now in Triple-A for the first time, Paez — who does not turn 23 until next January — has put himself in a position to get back to the majors with the Red Sox for the stretch run. At the very least, he can build a case for a spot on Boston’s 40-man roster this winter, which would keep him from being Rule 5-eligible for the second straight offseason.

(Picture of Jedixson Paez: Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Which prospect did Red Sox send to Orioles to complete Adley Rutschman trade?

More than a week after acquiring three-time All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman, the Red Sox have completed the blockbuster trade that netted him from the Orioles.

Boston sent minor league outfielder Harold Rivas to Baltimore as the player to be named later in the deal on Wednesday, per announcements from both clubs. That means the trade is now complete, with the Red Sox landing Rutschman, fellow backstop Jake Rogers (who has since been designated for assignment), and cash considerations from the Orioles for catcher Carlos Narvaez, pitching prospects Anthony Eyanson and Kyson Witherspoon, and outfield prospects Enddy Azocar and Rivas.

As noted by MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo, Rivas was initially rumored to be part of the package going back to Baltimore on August 3 before it was revealed that the fifth piece — following Narvaez, Eyanson, Witherspoon, and Azocar — was a player to be named later when the trade was first announced. Since Rutschman was on the injured list with left wrist inflammation at the time, this suggests the Red Sox and Orioles may have already agreed to Rivas’ inclusion last week but waited until Rutschman was activated by Boston on Tuesday to officially complete the deal.

Rivas, then, switches organizations for the first time in his young career. The 18-year-old was ranked by Baseball America as Boston’s No. 10 prospect after originally signing for $950,000 as a highly touted international free agent out of Venezuela last January. He made a solid first impression in the Dominican Summer League last season, marking his professional debut, before making the jump stateside to the Florida Complex League in 2026.

In 46 games for the FCL Red Sox, Rivas batted .241/.343/.429 with six doubles, four triples, six home runs, 19 RBIs, 42 runs scored, 23 stolen bases, 24 walks, and 52 strikeouts over 198 plate appearances. The right-handed hitter slashed .239/.333/.435 in 159 plate appearances against righties and .250/.385/.406 in 39 plate appearances against lefties.

Among 69 qualified FCL hitters this season, Rivas notably ranked second in speed score (9.5), 14th in isolated power (.188), 17th in wSB (1.1), 22nd in slugging percentage, and 25th in swinging-strike rate (11.7%), according to FanGraphs.

Defensively, Rivas saw almost all of his playing time in the Florida Complex League come in center field. The athletic 6-foot-2, 177-pounder made 43 starts in center for the FCL Red Sox, committing five errors and recording three assists in 309 chances over 318 innings. He also made two starts at DH.

In addition to being ranked as the Red Sox’ No. 10 prospect, Rivas came in at No. 13 on Baseball America’s Top 20 Florida Complex League Prospects for 2026 list. The publication noted that while catcher Franklin Primera and right-hander Sadbiel Delzine “were the stars” of Boston’s FCL affiliate, Rivas “opened plenty of eyes as well.”

“The narrow-framed outfielder has a quick, whippy swing geared for line drives, though some scouts noticed that he was a bit eager to sell out for the kind of power that likely won’t be a part of his game as he moves up the ladder,” Baseball America’s Josh Norris wrote last month. “In fact, Rivas might take away more home runs than he hits. The above-average runner showed excellent instincts and routes in center field and more than convinced scouts that he could play the position at an above-average clip.”

Rivas, who does not turn 19 until next May, is still years away from the majors but nonetheless joins a talented, replenished Orioles farm system. He has been assigned to Baltimore’s FCL affiliate in the interim, though it would not be surprising to see him join Low-A Delmarva for what would be his full-season debut before long.

(Picture of Harold Rivas: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox sign former Yankees farmhand Aaron Nixon to minor league contract

The Red Sox signed free agent right-hander Aaron Nixon to a minor league contract on Tuesday. He has been assigned to High-A Greenville.

Nixon, 25, joins the Red Sox organization after spending three-plus years in the Yankees system. The native Texan, who began his collegiate career at Texas, originally signed with New York as an undrafted free agent out of Mississippi State in July 2023. He made his professional debut the following April and spent the entire 2024 season with Low-A Tampa, posting a 5.40 ERA with 63 strikeouts to 48 walks across 39 relief appearances spanning 61 2/3 innings.

After spending all of 2025 on the full-season injured list while recovering from Tommy John surgery, Nixon made the jump to High-A Hudson Valley in 2026. In 16 relief appearances for the Renegades, the righty produced a 5.94 ERA with 16 strikeouts to 11 walks in 16 2/3 innings. He had fared better of late, allowing just one earned run over his last eight innings since June 23, but was still released in early August.

Altogether, Nixon owns a 5.51 ERA with 79 strikeouts to 59 walks in 55 career minor league relief outings (78 1/3 innings) across two seasons (2024 and 2026) between Low-A and High-A. Opposing hitters have slashed .222/.395/.368 in 366 plate appearances against him during that stretch.

Listed at 6-foot and 210 pounds, Nixon features a low-to-mid 90s fastball as well as a sinker and slider. He has also generated plenty of weak contact, owning a career 57.5% groundball rate. His 58.8% groundball rate this season ranks fourth among pitchers who have thrown at least 15 innings in the South Atlantic League, according to FanGraphs.

Nixon, who turned 25 last month, will remain in the South Atlantic League after joining Greenville’s pitching staff. He will likely make his Red Sox organizational debut in the Drive’s road series against Hub City this week.

(Picture of Aaron Nixon: Diamond Images via Getty Images)