Former Red Sox pitching prospect Noah Dean signs minor league deal with Nationals

Former Red Sox pitching prospect Noah Dean has agreed to terms on a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals, according to The Nats Report.

Dean was released by the Red Sox on March 19 after spending parts of four seasons in the organization. The 25-year-old left-hander was originally selected in the fifth round (159th overall) of the 2022 draft out of Old Dominion. At that time, Paul Toboni — now the Nationals’ president of baseball operations — served as Boston’s director of amateur scouting, so there is a level of familiarity there.

A New Jersey native, Dean received a $322,500 signing bonus from the Red Sox in July 2022 but did not make his professional debut until the following April. The lefty spent all of 2023 and the first half of 2024 at Low-A Salem before being promoted to High-A Greenville that July. He then returned to Boston’s South Atlantic League affiliate for the start of the 2025 campaign.

In 22 appearances (15 starts) for Greenville last year, Dean posted a 5.68 ERA with 81 strikeouts to 48 walks over 63 1/3 innings in which he held opponents to a .219 batting average. He reached Double-A Portland for the first time in September and was solid in his lone outing for the Sea Dogs, scattering one hit and one walk while striking out one across 2 2/3 scoreless frames of relief.

Altogether, Dean owns a lifetime 5.35 ERA with 284 strikeouts to 175 walks across 66 career minor league appearances (47 starts) spanning 208 2/3 innings between Low-A, High-A, and Double-A. He has struck out nearly 30% of the batters he faced while limiting opponents to a .198 clip, but his 18.4% walk rate highlights ongoing issues with command and control.

Standing at 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, Dean features a 93-95 mph fastball that reaches 97 mph. The athletic southpaw has also incorporated an 80-83 mph curveball, an 88-92 mph cutter, an 82-83 mph sweep, and a 77-79 mph curveball into his arsenal in the past, as noted in his SoxProspects.com scouting report.

Dean, who just turned 25 on March 10, will presumably report to either Washington’s High-A affiliate in Wilmington or Double-A affiliate in Harrisburg in the coming days. He is the latest notable pitching prospect to go from the Red Sox to the Nationals in recent months, albeit through different means.

In December, Boston traded hard-throwing righty Luis Perales to Washington for 6-foot-6 lefty Jake Bennett, and both made their organizational debuts with their new clubs’ Triple-A affiliates over the weekend.

(Picture of Noah Dean: Gwinn Davis/Greenville Drive)

Red Sox release another top international signing after five seasons

The Red Sox have released another former top international signing in 23-year-old outfielder Juan Chacon, according to Hunter Noll of Beyond the Monster.

Chacon originally signed with Boston for $900,000 in July 2019, receiving the largest bonus of the club’s 2019-2020 international free agent class. The native Venezuelan had drawn praise as an amateur for his approach, athleticism, and speed, but he was never able to quite put it all together and climb up the prospect rankings as a member of the Red Sox organization.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic wiping out the 2020 minor league season, Chacon did not officially make his professional debut until 2021. He played in both the rookie-level Dominican Summer and Florida Complex Leagues before reaching Low-A Salem in August 2022. A left hamate injury that required surgery the following July limited him to just 57 games with Boston’s Carolina League affiliate in 2023.

Chacon made the jump to High-A Greenville in 2024 but struggled to a .203/.269/.302 line with 18 doubles, three triples, two home runs, 17 RBIs, 37 runs scored, nine stolen bases, 25 walks, and 109 strikeouts in a career-high 84 games (334 plate appearances). The right-handed hitter returned to the Drive for the start of the 2025 campaign before receiving a promotion to Double-A Portland in late April. From there, he batted .229/.311/.298 with seven doubles, one triple, 11 RBIs, 17 runs scored, three stolen bases, 14 walks, and 41 strikeouts in 51 games (151 plate appearances) for the Sea Dogs while frequently moving to and from the development list.

Overall, Chacon is a lifetime .233/.330/.318 hitter with 47 doubles, 12 triples, four home runs, 82 RBIs, 147 runs scored, 65 stolen bases, 126 walks, and 299 strikeouts over 290 career minor league games (1,130 plate appearances) across five levels. Defensively, the 6-foot-1, 171-pounder (listed height and weight) has experience at all three outfield spots. But between Greenville and Portland last year, he was used exclusively at the corners, making 35 starts in left and eight in right, where he recorded his lone outfield assist.

Chacon, who does not turn 24 until December, was slated to reach minor league free agency at the end of the 2026 season but will now do so sooner than initially anticipated. Given his speed and defensive abilities, it will be worthwhile to see if Chacon draws interest from other teams in need of upper-minors outfield depth in the coming weeks.

In addition to releasing Chacon, Noll noted that the Red Sox also parted ways with 21-year-old infielder Yohander Linarez, who had been in the organization since signing for $10,000 as an international free agent out of Venezuela in January 2022.

(Picture of Juan Chacon: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox’ Anthony Eyanson named to All-Spring Breakout Second Team after dazzling performance

It may have just been one inning of relief. Still, Red Sox pitching prospect Anthony Eyanson was unquestionably one of the standout performers in Friday night’s Spring Breakout showcase against the Orioles.

On Monday, Eyanson was recognized for his efforts, as he was named to the 2026 All-Spring Breakout Second Team by Major League Baseball.

Eyanson was the last pitcher the Red Sox used in Friday’s 3-1 loss to Orioles minor leaguers under the lights at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fla. The 21-year-old right-hander was both efficient and effective, needing only 14 pitches (10 strikes) to punch out the only three batters he faced (Jose Pena, Cobb Hightower, and Ethan Anderson) in order as part of a scoreless eighth inning.

Of the 14 pitches Eyanson threw, four were whiff-inducing. He mixed in a fastball that averaged 99.1 mph and topped out at 100.2 mph, an 88-90 mph splitter, and an 82-83 mph curveball. All three of his strikeouts were recorded on his wipeout curveball, as he got two looking and one swinging.

“Obviously, I wanted to show off what I’ve been working on as far as the fastball and the splitter, and I feel like I did that tonight,” Eyanson told reporters (including The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier). “[I] really feel myself expanding as a pitcher, being able to use that splitter when I fall behind, getting that arm-side action, giving me a lot more options, especially with the fastball carrying and being a lot harder now. It’s just a lot different.”

For Eyanson, lighting up the radar gun to this extent has not always been the standard. The California native was selected by the Red Sox with the 87th overall pick in last summer’s draft out of Louisiana State, where he typically sat between 92-94 mph and topped out at 97 mph in his lone season with the Tigers. Since signing for an over-slot $1.75 million and subsequently immersing himself in Boston’s pitching development program, however, Eyanson has experienced a significant uptick in velocity.

“The velo jump is hard to ignore,” Red Sox senior director of player development Brian Abraham said of Eyanson when speaking with MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo. “He was mostly 93-95 in college, I know he touched 97, but he’s been sitting 96-98 this spring with secondaries that are advanced for where he is. He just has a really good feel for the baseball, feel to spin the ball, and can challenge the strike zone.”

As a result of reaching triple digits for the first time in a game setting on Friday, Eyanson is now the proud owner of a “Fuego” t-shirt, which the Red Sox award to all pitchers who throw 100 mph. The 6-foot-2, 208-pound righty is currently ranked by MLB Pipeline as the organization’s No. 10 prospect, while Baseball America has him slightly lower at No. 13.

Alongside fellow 2025 draftees (and SEC products) Kyson Witherspoon and Marcus Phillips, Eyanson has been the talk of minor league spring training for the Red Sox in Fort Myers. Even before officially making his professional debut (which he will likely do for High-A Greenville next month), Eyanson’s stock is already on the rise.

“It’s crazy to see the amount of progress that I’ve made,” Eyanson said. “I’m really excited. I feel almost like a brand new pitcher.”

(Picture of Anthony Eyanson: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox release another notable international signing after two seasons

The Red Sox parted ways with another notable international signing on Friday by releasing 19-year-old outfielder Edwin Brito.

As noted by SoxProspects.com’s Andrew Parker, Brito received the third-largest bonus ($450,000) in Boston’s 2024 international signing class behind only fellow Dominican outfielder Vladimir Asencio ($1 million) and Venezuelan infielder Carlos Carrasquel ($590,000), both of whom have since been released.

After signing with the Red Sox in January 2024, Brito showed signs of promise in his first professional season by batting .251/.361/.450 with six doubles, two triples, eight home runs, 32 RBIs, 27 runs scored, two stolen bases, 21 walks, and 46 strikeouts in 51 Dominican Summer League games (205 plate appearances). The right-handed hitter made the jump to the Florida Complex League in 2025 but struggled significantly, slashing just .141/.252/.212 with seven doubles, 12 RBIs, eight runs scored, three stolen bases, 10 walks, and 38 strikeouts over 32 games (115 plate appearances) in his stateside debut.

Altogether, Brito is a lifetime .211/.322/.363 hitter with 13 doubles, two triples, eight home runs, 44 RBIs, 35 runs scored, five stolen bases, 31 walks, and 84 strikeouts through 83 career games (320 plate appearances) in the rookie-level Dominican Summer and Florida Complex Leagues. Defensively, the 5-foot-11, 195-pounder has spent most of his time in left field (21 starts) and right field (36 starts), while also making one appearance in center field and four starts at first base.

Despite being ranked by SoxProspects.com as the organization’s No. 54 prospect at this time last year, Brito now finds himself a free agent before playing a single game for a Red Sox full-season affiliate. Given that he does not turn 20 until November, it should be interesting to see if another club believes Brito still has room for development and is therefore worth a second chance.

(Picture of Edwin Brito: Bryan Green/Flickr)

Red Sox release former top international signing after four seasons

The Red Sox released six minor leaguers on Thursday, including one of their former top international signings.

As noted by SoxProspects.com’s Andrew Parker, Boston cut ties with 21-year-old infielder Fraymi De Leon, who received the largest bonus ($1.2 million) of the club’s 2022 international signing class.

At the time of his signing in January 2022, De Leon was ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 50 international prospect in his class. As an amateur, the Dominican native drew rave reviews for his defense, arm strength, and speed, but he was never able to put it all together at the plate as a member of the Red Sox organization.

After spending his first two professional seasons in the rookie-level Dominican Summer and Florida Complex Leagues, De Leon made stops at Low-A Salem, High-A Greenville, and Double-A Portland in each of the last two campaigns. In a career-high 88 games between the three affiliates last year, the switch-hitter batted just .190/.255/.245 with 10 doubles, one triple, one home run, 27 RBIs, 38 runs scored, 16 stolen bases, 21 walks, and 85 strikeouts over 307 plate appearances.

Overall, De Leon is a lifetime .210/.310/.264 hitter with 21 doubles, three triples, five home runs, 76 RBIs, 127 runs scored, 74 stolen bases, 91 walks, and 246 strikeouts in 253 career minor league games (903 plate appearances) across five levels. Defensively, the versatile 5-foot-10, 155-pounder (listed height and weight) has seen playing time at every position besides catcher and first base. Last season alone, he made 33 starts at second base, 24 starts at third base, 22 starts at shortstop, and four starts in left field.

Though he was never viewed among Boston’s premier prospects, SoxProspects.com does take note of the fact that the organization appeared to have respected De Leon’s “defensive skills enough to regularly call him up to cover for injured players at higher levels.”

It will now be interesting to see if De Leon, who does not turn 22 until September, can potentially latch on with another team before the 2026 season begins in the coming weeks. An organization that values his defensive versatility enough may be willing to give him another chance.

In addition to De Leon, the Red Sox also released infielders Tyler Miller and Efren Teran, outfielders Yan Cruz and Jesus Lugo, and left-hander Noah Dean on Thursday.

(Picture of Fraymi De Leon: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Why Red Sox catching prospect Gerardo Rodriguez is a name to watch in 2026

The Red Sox undoubtedly placed an emphasis on reinforcing their lower-minors catching depth over the winter. They addressed this area of need by acquiring the likes of Adonys Guzman, Ronny Hernandez, and Luke Heyman in trades with the Pirates, White Sox, and Mariners.

While Guzman, Hernandez, and Heyman represent intriguing external additions, the Red Sox are not without at least a few in-house catching prospects who may be worth keeping an eye on. One such name to watch is Gerardo Rodriguez.

Rodriguez, who turned 20 in December, is coming off a productive 2025 season that began with him repeating the rookie-level Florida Complex League. In 41 games for the FCL Red Sox, the right-handed hitter batted .279/.329/.383 with a team-high 16 doubles and 32 RBIs, 17 runs scored, seven stolen bases, 10 walks, and 23 strikeouts over 170 plate appearances.

Following the conclusion of the FCL season, Rodriguez was promoted to Low-A Salem (where he played seven games in 2024) in early August. This time around, Rodriguez got more run and ended his year on a high note by slashing .297/.372/.500 with four doubles, one triple, three home runs, 11 RBIs, nine runs scored, one stolen base, nine walks, and 13 strikeouts in 22 games (86 plate appearances) for Boston’s Carolina League affiliate.

Overall, Rodriguez slashed .285/.344/.421 with 20 doubles, one triple, three home runs, 43 RBIs, 26 runs scored, eight stolen bases, 19 walks, and 36 strikeouts in 69 games (256 plate appearances) between the FCL and Salem last year. That includes a .313/.395/.469 line against lefties and a .281/.335/.413 line against righties.

Among 43 Red Sox minor leaguers who made at least 250 trips to the plate in 2025, Rodriguez ranked third in strikeout rate (14.1%), fourth in batting average, sixth in wOBA (.370), ninth in slugging percentage and OPS (.765), 13th in on-base percentage and wRC+ (110), 16th in swinging-strike rate (10.4%), and 18th in isolated power (.136), per FanGraphs.

On the other side of the ball, Rodriguez unsurprisingly saw most of his playing time last year come at catcher. Between his stops in the FCL and Salem, the 5-foot-10, 177-pound (listed height and weight) backstop logged 327 1/3 innings behind the plate and threw out 46 of 135 (34.1%) possible base stealers. He also made 10 starts at first base, where he committed one error in 55 defensive chances, and 15 starts at DH.

A native of Venezuela, Rodriguez originally signed with the Red Sox for $50,000 as an international free agent in January 2023. He has not received much buzz to this point, but has made strides by adding strength and bat speed to his profile. Baseball America ranks him as Boston’s No. 25 prospect, while MLB Pipeline has him two spots lower at No. 27.

“He’s squat and stocky, yet moves in surprisingly quick bursts on both sides of the ball after making sizable bat speed gains with his level swing,” Rodriguez’s Baseball America scouting report reads. “Though he chases breaking balls off the plate, his 19% whiff rate and 14% in-zone whiff rate were both well above-average for his level and yielded solid contact. He generated a 102.6 mph 90th percentile exit velocity and 110.8 mph max. Rodriguez improved his ball flight in 2025, trading grounders for more liners and flyballs, which suggests an atypically solid hit tool for a catcher with fringy power. Defensively, his strong framing and blocking data suggest average potential behind the plate.”

MLB Pipeline adds: “Rodriguez will be more effective at the plate as he becomes more selective. He doesn’t strike out much, but chases more pitches than he should, lowering his quality of contact. He not only added muscle but also improved his ability to drive balls in the air, giving him 12-15 homer potential.”

Rodriguez was one of three catchers (alongside Nate Baez and Franklin Primera) named to the Red Sox’ Spring Breakout roster ahead of Friday night’s showcase against prospects from the Orioles organization in Sarasota, Fla. Looking a little further ahead, Rodriguez could very well make the jump to High-A Greenville to open his 2026 campaign next month.

(Picture of Gerardo Rodriguez: Bryan Green/Flickr)

Red Sox’ Braiden Ward sets spring training stolen base record

Since Major League Baseball began tracking spring training stats in 2006, no player had stolen more than 16 bases in a single spring.

Until now.

In the second inning of Thursday’s Grapefruit League game against the Twins, Red Sox minor league outfielder Braiden Ward set a new record by swiping his 17th bag of the spring. After being hit by a pitch, the speedster promptly took off for second base and slid in safely without a throw from the opposing catcher.

To mark the occasion, Ward paid homage to Rickey Henderson by picking up the base and lifting it in the air in celebration. Unlike Henderson, who set the all-time steals record in 1991, Ward did not lift the base completely over his head.

As Ward explained to reporters (including MassLive.com’s Christopher Smith and The Boston Globe’s Tim Healey), Marcelo Mayer originally came up with the idea for the celebration as a joke. It was then backed by Trevor Story and manager Alex Cora.

“I wasn’t going to do that in general, but they were all egging me on, egging me on,” Ward said. “How often do you get to do something like that? It’s for the boys, you know what I mean? It was something for us to celebrate a little bit during spring training. Spring training’s supposed to be fun and laidback.

“It started off as a joke,” he continued, “[Cora] didn’t say no. That’s a yes, right? So we were like, ‘OK, we can do it, I guess.’ And then Story was like, ‘Yeah, sure.’ And then everyone was like, ‘You’ve got to do it. You’ve got to do it.’”

With his 17th stolen base (in 18 attempts) of the spring on Thursday, Ward surpassed Eugenio Velez’s exhibition record of 16 steals with the Giants in 2008.

“I had no idea what the record was until someone had mentioned it on Twitter when I had 12 (steals),” said Ward. “And then I was like, ‘Wait, 16’s doable. 17’s doable at the rate I was going. [Cora] was just like, ‘Go out there and run. Do your thing.’ I’m trying to impress him, impress the team, find a role on this team. And so I’m just trying to do what I can do, and so hopefully we can get to 20, 25, and just keep going.”

Acquired from the Rockies for left-handed reliever Brennan Bernardino in November, Ward has made quite the impression in his first spring training with the Red Sox. In camp as a non-roster invitee who has yet to play in the majors, the left-handed hitting 27-year-old is batting .419/.526/.452 with one double, four RBIs, 10 runs scored, four walks, and eight strikeouts through 16 Grapefruit League games (38 plate appearances).

Defensively, Ward — part of a stacked outfield group — has seen playing time at all three spots with the Red Sox this spring and has yet to commit an error. Whether it be on the base paths or in the outfield grass, the fleet-footed 5-foot-9, 160-pounder is undoubtedly using his speed to his advantage.

“He’s a good base runner. He’s not out there just running for the hell of it. He gets good jumps, but he’s very picky [as to] when. So far, it’s been outstanding,” Cora remarked. “I knew he was fast, but I didn’t know the rest of the player, to be honest with you. The bunting thing is real. He’s getting better in the outfield. The at-bats are getting better, too. He’s gaining a lot of confidence.”

Despite the strong spring, Ward is viewed as a long shot to make Boston’s Opening Day roster given his positioning on the club’s outfield depth chart. He sits behind the likes of Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, and Roman Anthony, who are all due back from the World Baseball Classic in the coming days.

Taking that into consideration, Ward acknowledged that his opportunities could be limited before the Red Sox depart for Cincinnati later this month.

“It’s going to be a lot harder to play,” Ward said.

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

Red Sox’ Brooks Brannon undergoes surgery for broken hamate bone

Red Sox catching/first base prospect Brooks Brannon recently underwent surgery to repair a broken hamate bone in his left hand, as noted by WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford.

Brannon injured the hand on a swing during spring workouts, according to a team source. It is unclear exactly how much time the 21-year-old will miss, though he will undoubtedly be sidelined for at least the first several weeks of the 2026 season.

Brannon, who turns 22 in May, is currently ranked as Boston’s No. 46 prospect by SoxProspects.com. The Randleman (N.C.) High School product was originally selected by the Red Sox in the ninth round (279th overall) of the 2022 draft. He forwent his commitment to North Carolina by signing for a well-over-slot $712,500, but has struggled to stay on the field consistently since going pro.

Due to arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, for instance, Brannon was limited to just 62 games with Low-A Salem in 2024. He did, however, end that year on a high note, as he made up for lost time by earning All-Star honors in the Arizona Fall League. Following a healthy offseason and spring, he broke camp with High-A Greenville last April.

Brannon overcame a slow start to his 2025 campaign and batted .270/.313/.398 with eight doubles, two triples, five home runs, 31 RBIs, 32 runs scored, three stolen bases, 12 walks, and 63 strikeouts in 55 games (224 plate appearances) for Greenville before being promoted to Double-A Portland in late June. The right-handed-hitting slugger struggled out of the gate following the move, but settled in by slashing .224/.302/.385 with eight doubles, five home runs, 16 RBIs, 20 runs scored, one stolen base, 15 walks, and 54 strikeouts in 38 games (159 plate appearances) for the Sea Dogs.

Altogether, Brannon hit .251/.308/.393 with 16 doubles, two triples, 10 home runs, 47 RBIs, 52 runs scored, four stolen bases, 27 walks, and 117 strikeouts in a career-high 93 games (383 plate appearances) between Greenville and Portland. That includes a .200/.210/.275 line against lefties and a far more favorable .266/.334/.427 line against righties.

Among 30 Red Sox minor leaguers who, regardless of level, made at least 350 trips to the plate last year, Brannon ranked eighth in line-drive rate (25.7%), 12th in batting average and slugging percentage, 13th in isolated power (.141), and 15th in wRC+ (102). At the same time, he ranked 27th in strikeout rate (30.5%) and walk rate (7%) and 28th in swinging-strike rate (16.3%), per FanGraphs.

Defensively, Brannon saw playing time at both catcher and first base at his stops in Greenville and Portland. In 49 starts behind the plate, the hulking 5-foot-11, 210-pound (listed weight, appears to have bulked up over the winter) backstop allowed five passed balls and threw out 21 of 120 possible base stealers. In 17 starts at first, he committed just two errors in 132 chances. He also made 27 starts at DH.

Brannon was projected by SoxProspects.com to return to Portland for the start of the 2026 season, but will now likely head to the injured list in the coming days or weeks. With an uncertain immediate future, it feels worth mentioning that Brannon can become Rule 5-eligible for the first time in his career this winter if he is not added to Boston’s 40-man roster by the November protection deadline.

(Picture of Brooks Brannon: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox pitching prospect Isaac Stebens undergoes Tommy John surgery

Red Sox pitching prospect Isaac Stebens underwent Tommy John surgery last week, according to SoxProspects.com’s Andrew Parker. As a result, he will miss the entire 2026 season and possibly the start of 2027 as well.

Stebens is not ranked among Boston’s top 60 prospects by SoxProspects.com. The 24-year-old right-hander was originally selected by the Red Sox in the 16th round (478th overall) of the 2023 draft out of Oklahoma State. He received an at-slot $150,000 signing bonus and put up solid numbers in each of his first two professional seasons.

After first reaching High-A Greenville in late April 2024, Stebens spent all of 2025 with Boston’s South Atlantic League affiliate. In a team-high 38 relief appearances for the Drive, the righty posted a 2.15 ERA (4.03 FIP) with 59 strikeouts to 29 walks over 50 1/3 innings. Opponents batted just .198 against him as he converted nine of his 10 save opportunities.

Among 85 pitchers who threw at least 50 innings in the hitter-friendly South Atlantic League last year, Stebens notably ranked eighth in ERA, 23rd in batting average against, 26th in strikeouts per nine innings (10.55) and strikeout rate (27.4%), and 37th in groundball rate (42.4%), per FanGraphs.

Following the conclusion of the minor league season, Stebens was one of eight Red Sox prospects who made the trek out west to play in the Arizona Fall League. The 6-foot, 194-pound hurler appeared in eight games out of the bullpen for the Salt River Rafters, allowing five runs (three earned) on eight hits, six walks, and seven strikeouts over seven additional innings of work. Stuff-wise, he featured a sinker, a cutter, a curveball, and a 92-95 mph four-seam fastball.

Stebens, who does not turn 25 until December, was projected to open the 2026 campaign with Double-A Portland, where he would be tasked with facing upper-minors competition for the first time in his career. That challenge will have to wait, as he will now be sidelined and focused on rehab for the foreseeable future.

(Picture of Isaac Stebens: Nick Cammett/Getty Images)

Red Sox sign 6-foot-7 righty Harrison Blum to minor league contract

The Red Sox have agreed to terms on a minor league contract with undrafted free agent right-hander Harrison Blum, as noted by SoxProspects.com’s Andrew Parker.

Blum, 24, is entering the professional ranks following a six-year collegiate career that included stops at Division III Luther College (Decorah, Iowa) and Division II Augustana College (Sioux Falls, S.D.). After earning back-to-back American Rivers Conference first-team all-conference honors (2023-2024) with Luther, the Minnesota native arrived at Augustana as a graduate transfer in 2025.

Primarily working out of the bullpen for the Vikings last spring, Blum posted a 4.50 ERA with 48 strikeouts to 22 walks in 17 outings (three starts) spanning 50 innings. He recorded four saves as opposing hitters batted .269 against him.

At 6-foot-7 and 240 pounds, Blum certainly fits the mold of pitcher the Red Sox have for the most part sought under chief baseball officer Craig Breslow. Stuff-wise, the physically imposing righty has added velocity to his repertoire in recent months. He now reaches 96-97 mph with his fastball after averaging 91 mph last year. His arsenal also consists of a curveball and a splitter.

Blum threw for scouts at DST Arizona’s pro day in Phoenix last month and clearly impressed the Red Sox enough to land his first professional contract. He addressed the signing in a statement released by Luther College on Tuesday.

“I am excited for another opportunity to continue to push myself further in this game we all love,” Blum said. “There is a ton of talent within the Red Sox organization, and I’m looking forward to being a part of this historical franchise.”

Described by Luther head coach Bryan Nikkel as a “late bloomer” and by Augustana head coach Tim Huber as having “more in the tank,” Blum is expected to report to Fort Myers for his first spring training with the Red Sox in the coming days. As for a season-opening assignment, Low-A Salem or High-A Greenville appear to be likely destinations.

(Picture of JetBlue Park at Fenway South: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)