After a successful first full professional season, Dylan Brown was recognized as the Red Sox’ 2026 Minor League Pitcher of the Year during pre-game festivities at Fenway Park last Friday night.
Brown earned the honor roughly 14 months after being selected by the Red Sox in the eighth round of the 2025 draft out of Old Dominion. As the 238th overall pick, the Pennsylvania native received an at-slot $229,000 signing bonus, though he did not make his pro debut until this season.
In early April, Brown broke camp with Low-A Salem and served as the RidgeYaks’ Opening Day starter. The 22-year-old left-hander made five starts there, posting a 2.31 ERA with 32 strikeouts to 13 walks over 23 1/3 innings in which opponents batted just .185 against him. He was promptly rewarded with a promotion to High-A Greenville shortly after the calendar flipped to May.
Brown had some growing pains at the new level, but still produced encouraging results. He made 17 appearances (16 starts) for the Drive over the season’s final four months, pitching to a 3.78 ERA with 111 strikeouts to 24 walks across 83 1/3 innings in which opponents batted .250 against him. That includes a 3.38 ERA in eight starts (40 innings) following the All-Star break in July.
Altogether, Brown forged a 3.46 ERA with an organizational-high 143 strikeouts to 37 walks in 22 outings (21 starts) spanning 106 2/3 innings between Salem and Greenville this season. He limited the opposition to a .236/.307/.328 line in 444 plate appearances, proving particularly difficult against right-handed hitters (.215/.284/.309) in a case of reverse splits.
One of seven Red Sox minor leaguers to surpass the century mark in innings pitched this year, Brown led that group in ERA, FIP (2.62), groundball rate (55.1%), opponents’ batting average, strikeouts per nine (12.07), strikeout rate (32.2%), swinging-strike rate (16.3%), and xFIP (3.20). He also ranked second in WHIP (1.23) and third in walks per nine (2.72), according to FanGraphs.
What makes Brown so effective is his delivery. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound lefty starts on the third-base side of the rubber, then steps towards first base before cutting across his body. He operates with a four-pitch mix consisting of a 91-94 mph fastball that can reach 95 mph, an 88-89 mph cutter, an 81-85 mph slider, and an 82-84 mph changeup.
Brown, who will not turn 23 until next June, is currently regarded by Baseball America as Boston’s No. 26 prospect, ranking 11th among pitchers in the organization. Barring a trade or other surprise move this winter, he is an early candidate to open the 2027 season in Double-A Portland’s starting rotation.
Such an assignment would put Brown up against more advanced competition in the upper minors. With that in mind, it could prove useful for the tall southpaw to continue working to add velocity while rounding out his repertoire as his development progresses.
(Picture of Dylan Brown: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)
