The Red Sox are promoting top infield prospect Henry Godbout from High-A Greenville to Double-A Portland, as first reported by MiLB Central’s Chase Ford.
Godbout is technically moving up to Portland from Low-A Salem, where he had been on a rehab assignment since July 31. The 22-year-old appeared in five games for the RidgeYaks, going 4-for-14 (.286) with one RBI, six runs scored, two stolen bases, six walks, and two strikeouts. He is evidently ready for a new challenge.
With this promotion, Godbout will be reaching the upper minors in his first full professional season. The Virginia product was selected by the Red Sox with the 75th overall pick in last summer’s draft, which the club received as compensation for losing Nick Pivetta to the Padres in free agency. He signed for an at-slot $1,093,800 and made his pro debut with Greenville, where he slashed .341/.473/.477 across a 13-game sample sandwiched around a hamstring injury.
Following an impressive spring training in which he displayed high-end bat speed with his quick swing, Godbout returned to Greenville and got his 2026 campaign off to an encouraging start. The right-handed hitter batted .277/.410/.492 with seven doubles, seven home runs, 14 RBIs, 21 runs scored, two stolen bases, 22 walks, and 27 strikeouts in 34 games (161 plate appearances) for the Drive before suffering a broken left hand after being hit by a pitch on May 30. He underwent surgery in early June and was transferred to the 60-day injured list ahead of being cleared to return to game action late last month.
Overall, Godbout is batting .278/.429/.472 with seven doubles, seven home runs, 15 RBIs, 27 runs scored, four stolen bases, 28 walks, and 29 strikeouts in 39 games (184 plate appearances) between Greenville and Salem this season. He is slashing .288/.447/.441 in 152 plate appearances against right-handed pitchers and .231/.344/.615 in 32 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers.
Excluding those in rookie-level Dominican Summer and Florida Complex Leagues, 47 Red Sox minor leaguers have logged at least 180 plate appearances so far in 2026. Among those 47, Godbout ranks second in on-base percentage, third in swinging-strike rate (7%), fourth in wOBA (.416) and wRC+ (137), fifth in OPS (.901) and strikeout rate (15.8%), eighth in batting average, ninth in walk rate (15.2%), 11th in slugging percentage, and 16th in isolated power (.194), according to FanGraphs.
Defensively, Godbout has been used almost exclusively at shortstop this year. Between his stops in Greenville and Salem, the 6-foot-2, 210-pounder made 32 starts at short, committing eight errors in 124 chances over 283 innings. He also made seven starts at DH.
Godbout, who turns 23 in November, is currently ranked by Baseball America as Boston’s No. 5 prospect. The New York native is set to become the fourth member of the Red Sox’ 2025 draft class to make the jump to Portland this season, joining third-rounder Anthony Eyanson (who has since been traded), fourth-rounder Mason White, and 13th-rounder Jack Winnay.
(Picture of Henry Godbout: Gwinn Davis/Greenville Drive)
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