Tag: adley rutschman

Which prospect did Red Sox send to Orioles to complete Adley Rutschman trade?

More than a week after acquiring three-time All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman, the Red Sox have completed the blockbuster trade that netted him from the Orioles.

Boston sent minor league outfielder Harold Rivas to Baltimore as the player to be named later in the deal on Wednesday, per announcements from both clubs. That means the trade is now complete, with the Red Sox landing Rutschman, fellow backstop Jake Rogers (who has since been designated for assignment), and cash considerations from the Orioles for catcher Carlos Narvaez, pitching prospects Anthony Eyanson and Kyson Witherspoon, and outfield prospects Enddy Azocar and Rivas.

As noted by MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo, Rivas was initially rumored to be part of the package going back to Baltimore on August 3 before it was revealed that the fifth piece — following Narvaez, Eyanson, Witherspoon, and Azocar — was a player to be named later when the trade was first announced. Since Rutschman was on the injured list with left wrist inflammation at the time, this suggests the Red Sox and Orioles may have already agreed to Rivas’ inclusion last week but waited until Rutschman was activated by Boston on Tuesday to officially complete the deal.

Rivas, then, switches organizations for the first time in his young career. The 18-year-old was ranked by Baseball America as Boston’s No. 10 prospect after originally signing for $950,000 as a highly touted international free agent out of Venezuela last January. He made a solid first impression in the Dominican Summer League last season, marking his professional debut, before making the jump stateside to the Florida Complex League in 2026.

In 46 games for the FCL Red Sox, Rivas batted .241/.343/.429 with six doubles, four triples, six home runs, 19 RBIs, 42 runs scored, 23 stolen bases, 24 walks, and 52 strikeouts over 198 plate appearances. The right-handed hitter slashed .239/.333/.435 in 159 plate appearances against righties and .250/.385/.406 in 39 plate appearances against lefties.

Among 69 qualified FCL hitters this season, Rivas notably ranked second in speed score (9.5), 14th in isolated power (.188), 17th in wSB (1.1), 22nd in slugging percentage, and 25th in swinging-strike rate (11.7%), according to FanGraphs.

Defensively, Rivas saw almost all of his playing time in the Florida Complex League come in center field. The athletic 6-foot-2, 177-pounder made 43 starts in center for the FCL Red Sox, committing five errors and recording three assists in 309 chances over 318 innings. He also made two starts at DH.

In addition to being ranked as the Red Sox’ No. 10 prospect, Rivas came in at No. 13 on Baseball America’s Top 20 Florida Complex League Prospects for 2026 list. The publication noted that while catcher Franklin Primera and right-hander Sadbiel Delzine “were the stars” of Boston’s FCL affiliate, Rivas “opened plenty of eyes as well.”

“The narrow-framed outfielder has a quick, whippy swing geared for line drives, though some scouts noticed that he was a bit eager to sell out for the kind of power that likely won’t be a part of his game as he moves up the ladder,” Baseball America’s Josh Norris wrote last month. “In fact, Rivas might take away more home runs than he hits. The above-average runner showed excellent instincts and routes in center field and more than convinced scouts that he could play the position at an above-average clip.”

Rivas, who does not turn 19 until next May, is still years away from the majors but nonetheless joins a talented, replenished Orioles farm system. He has been assigned to Baltimore’s FCL affiliate in the interim, though it would not be surprising to see him join Low-A Delmarva for what would be his full-season debut before long.

(Picture of Harold Rivas: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Which three prospects did Red Sox trade to Orioles in Adley Rutschman deal?

The Red Sox made a significant move to acquire three-time All-Star Adley Rutschman from the division rival Orioles before Monday evening’s trade deadline.

In exchange for Rutschman, backup catcher Jake Rogers, and cash considerations, Boston traded backstop Carlos Narvaez, minor league right-handers Anthony Eyanson and Kyson Witherspoon, minor league outfielder Enddy Azocar, and a player to be named later or cash considerations to Baltimore.

This article will focus on the three prospects switching sides in this blockbuster: Eyanson, Witherspoon, and Azocar. Baseball America had Eyanson as Boston’s No. 2 prospect, while Witherspoon and Azocar were ranked No. 3 and No. 5 in the system, respectively.

Eyanson, the No. 33 prospect in baseball according to Baseball America, is the headliner of the package going back to the Orioles. The 21-year-old right-hander was selected by the Red Sox in the third round (87th overall) of last summer’s draft out of Louisiana State. He received an above-slot $1.75 million signing bonus and is now four months into his first full professional season.

In 16 outings (15 starts) between High-A Greenville and Double-A Portland, Eyanson posted a 1.32 ERA with 94 strikeouts to 26 walks over 68 1/3 innings in which opponents batted .152 against him. He represented the Red Sox in the All-Star Futures Game and struck out a career-high of 10 in his last start with the organization on July 31.

Eyanson worked to add power to his arsenal and raise his arm slot over the winter. The 6-foot-2, 208-pound righty showed encouraging signs in his first spring training and has only taken off from there. He now operates with a 92-95 mph fastball that has topped out at 97.5 mph in-season while also featuring a mid-80s gyro slider, a high-70s curveball, a mid-80s splitter, and a high-80s cutter.

Witherspoon, who turns 22 next week, is ranked by Baseball America as the No. 97 prospect in baseball. The young right-hander was selected by the Red Sox with the 15th overall pick in last summer’s draft out of Oklahoma. He received a below-slot $5 million signing bonus and, like Eyanson, made his professional debut with Greenville in April.

Unlike Eyanson, though, Witherspoon has not had the smoothest of transitions to pro ball. In 17 starts for Greenville, he posted a 4.78 ERA with 78 strikeouts to 34 walks over 75 1/3 innings in which opponents batted .256 against him. His best stretch came from May 24-June 26, when he forged a 2.64 ERA across six starts (30 2/3 innings). He then pitched to a 4.91 ERA in four July outings.

Despite the inconsistencies that have come with some mechanical adjustments, Eyanson still boasts plenty of potential. Now working with a delivery closer to what he was doing at Oklahoma, the 6-foot-2, 206-pound righty sits in the mid-90s with a fastball that has been up to 97.6 mph this season. He also throws a slider, cutter, and curveball.

Azocar, unlike Eyanson and Witherspoon, is not ranked within Baseball America’s top 100. The 19-year-old Venezuelan originally signed with the Red Sox for $40,000 as an international free agent in January 2024. He made his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League that season, then started turning heads as he worked his way from the Florida Complex League to Low-A Salem in 2025.

In 85 games between Salem and Greenville to begin the 2026 campaign, Azocar batted .286/.341/.540 with 27 doubles, six triples, 18 home runs, 63 RBIs, 76 runs scored, 11 stolen bases, 28 walks, and 95 strikeouts over 399 plate appearances. The right-handed hitter slashed .343/.400/.685 in 80 plate appearances against lefties and .272/.326/.503 in 319 plate appearances against righties.

Defensively, Azocar saw most of his playing time this season come in center field. Across 70 total starts (40 with Greenville, 30 with Salem), the athletic 6-foot-2, 195-pounder committed only two errors and recorded four assists in 156 chances over 614 1/3 innings. He also made one start in left, one start in right, and 13 starts at DH between the two stops.

Immediately following Monday’s trade, Eyanson was assigned to the Orioles’ Double-A Chesapeake affiliate. Witherspoon and Azocar, on the other hand, were assigned to High-A Frederick.

(Picture of Anthony Eyanson: Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)