The Red Sox lost pitching prospect Jedixson Paez to the White Sox in the major league phase of Wednesday’s Rule 5 Draft.
Paez was taken by Chicago with the second overall pick. The White Sox will now be tasked with keeping the right-hander, who turns 22 next month, on their active roster for the entire 2026 season (barring an injured list stint). If not, they will have to offer him back to the Red Sox for $50,000 (half of the $100,000 selection fee) should he clear waivers.
Hailing from Venezuela, Paez originally signed with the Red Sox for $450,000 as an international free agent in January 2021. The Tinaquillo native made his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League shortly thereafter and was later named Boston’s Latin Program Pitcher of the Year. Since making the jump stateside in 2022, he has steadily climbed the organizational ladder.
After first reaching High-A last May, Paez returned to Greenville for the start of the 2025 campaign as Baseball America’s 21st-ranked Red Sox prospect. Due to a right calf strain suffered in late April, however, the righty spent nearly four months on the injured list before returning to action in mid-August. When on the mound, though, he posted a 2.79 ERA (4.32 FIP) with 23 strikeouts to three walks in seven starts (19 1/3 innings) for the Drive. Opposing hitters in the South Atlantic League batted .228 against him.
Despite having yet to pitch above the High-A level, Paez was an enticing option for the White Sox given his advanced feel for command and control, as evidenced by his career 3.9 percent walk rate in 307 2/3 minor league innings. Baseball America even described the 6-foot-1, 170-pound hurler as having “arguably the best control” among Rule 5-eligible pitchers.
“Nothing he throws is plus,” Baseball America wrote of Paez. “But he locates his 91-92 mph fastball, curveball, sweeper, and slider, while his mid-80s changeup is an above-average pitch with plenty of fade. …Paez could be more than a bulk-inning reliever if he gains a bit more velocity, but his control and varied arsenal give him survival skills if picked.”
Paez was one of several intriguing prospects left off Boston’s 40-man roster ahead of last month’s deadline to protect Rule 5-eligible players. The Red Sox instead elected to add lefty Shane Drohan and righties David Sandlin and Tyler Uberstine.
(Picture of Jedixson Paez: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)
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