The Red Sox are promoting teenage catching prospect Franklin Primera from the Florida Complex League to Low-A Salem, as was first reported by Chris Hatfield of SoxProspects.com.
Primera, who turned 19 earlier this month, lit up the Florida Complex League to begin his first season stateside. The right-handed hitter batted .427/.549/.718 with six doubles, eight home runs, 29 RBIs, 30 runs scored, four stolen bases, 22 walks, and 13 strikeouts in 32 games (134 plate appearances) for the rookie-level FCL Red Sox. He slashed .250/.478/.250 in 24 plate appearances against lefties and .460/.564/.805 in 110 plate appearances against righties.
Among 73 qualified hitters in the FCL entering play this week, Primera leads in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS (1.267), wOBA (.571), and wRC+ (202). He also ranks second in strikeout rate (9.7%), sixth in isolated power (.291), seventh in swinging-strike rate (7.6%), and 24th in walk rate (16.4%), according to FanGraphs.
Defensively, Primera saw most of his playing time in the FCL at catcher. Primarily splitting reps with Jorge Rodriguez, the 6-foot, 230-pound backstop allowed five passed balls and threw out 17 of 101 would-be base stealers in 23 starts behind the plate. He also made eight starts at first base, marking his first exposure there as a professional, and one start at DH.
A native of Venezuela, Primera originally signed with the Red Sox for just $10,000 as an unheralded international free agent in September 2024. He made his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League the following June, emerging as a 2025 DSL All-Star and All-Star Game Co-MVP after hitting a crucial home run for his first (unofficial) round-tripper as a pro.
Thanks to his hot start out of the gate in 2026, Primera is now ranked by Baseball America as Boston’s top catching prospect and No. 19 overall prospect. Evaluators have been impressed by his approach at the plate, his ability to impact the baseball, and his defensive capabilities.
As he prepares for his first taste of full-season ball, Primera is slated to join a Salem catching group that currently includes the likes of Kleyver Salazar, Andonys Guzman, and Andruw Musett. The RidgeYaks are on the road for the next two weeks and open a six-game series against the Augusta GreenJackets on Tuesday.
(Picture of Franklin Primera: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)
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