Tag: brandon neely

Red Sox promote pitching prospect Brandon Neely to High-A Greenville

The Red Sox have promoted pitching prospect Brandon Neely from Low-A Salem to High-A Greenville, according to the club’s MiLB.com transactions log.

Neely, 22, was originally taken by the Red Sox in the third round (86th overall) of the 2024 draft out of Florida. The former Gator and First Team All-SEC selection received an under-slot $700,000 signing bonus, but spent the entirety of his first full professional season on the injured list due to forearm stiffness.

Instead of pitching for a Red Sox minor league affiliate, Neely spent most of his 2025 rehabbing in Fort Myers. The right-hander was, however, cleared in September to take part in the Arizona Fall League. He then made five appearances (one start) for the Salt River Rafters, allowing 16 runs (14 earned) on 16 hits, eight walks, and 11 strikeouts over 10 innings.

“It was nice to be out there competing again,” Neely said of pitching in the Arizona Fall League when speaking with Mac Cerullo of The Boston Herald earlier this spring.

Following a healthy offseason, Neely broke camp with Salem and made his official pro debut on April 8. In two relief outings for the RidgeYaks leading up to Friday’s promotion, the 6-foot-2, 210-pound righty yielded just one earned run on one hit, one walk, and eight strikeouts across 4 2/3 innings. That translates to a 1.93 ERA and a 0.43 WHIP.

Neely, who turns 23 in July, is currently ranked as Boston’s No. 49 prospect by SoxProspects.com, which notes that he “checks a lot of boxes the Red Sox look for,” including “a unique delivery with a low release height” and “a fastball with solid traits and bat-missing ability.” He complements his mid-90s heater, which touches 97 mph, with a slider and changeup.

Given that his first two outings of the season came eight days apart (April 8 and 16), it would not be surprising to see Neely make his High-A debut in Greenville’s game against Asheville on Friday night (April 24). If so, he would work in relief of starter Kyson Witherspoon at some point.

In addition to promoting Neely to Greenville, the Red Sox elevated left-handers Michael Sansone (Double-A Portland to Triple-A Worcester), PJ Labriola (Greenville to Portland), and Jason Gilman (extended spring training to Salem) on Friday. Right-hander Danny Kirwin (right shoulder strain) was also sent on a rehab assignment to Greenville.

(Picture of Brandon Neely: Brandon Sloter/Getty Images)

Brandon Neely enters MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 Red Sox prospects list

After the Red Sox traded Elmer Rodriguez to the Yankees last week, fellow right-hander Brandon Neely entered the club’s Top 30 prospects list on MLB Pipeline.

Neely is now regarded by MLB Pipeline as Boston’s No. 30 prospect, which ranks 17th among pitchers in the organization. The 21-year-old was selected by the Red Sox in the third round (86th overall) of this past summer’s draft out of Florida. He signed for an under-slot $700,000 but has yet to make his professional debut.

A native of Seville, Fla., Neely spent three seasons with the Gators after going undrafted out of high school in 2021. After recording a conference-leading 13 saves and earning First Team All-SEC honors as a sophomore in 2023, the righty worked as both a starter and reliever in his junior season.

In 28 appearances (six starts) for Florida this past spring, Neely posted a 5.13 ERA and 1.27 WHIP with 108 strikeouts to 28 walks over a staff-leading 79 innings in which opposing hitters batted .242 against him. He proved to be a stabilizing force for the Gators in their march toward the College World Series and was named to the Stillwater Regional All-Tournament Team as a result.

Listed at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, Neely throws from a three-quarters arm slot and incorporates a high leg kick into his quick delivery. He currently sits between 92-95 mph and touches 97 mph with his fastball while also mixing in a mid-80s slider and upper-80s changeup, per his MLB Pipeline scouting report.

Neely, who does not turn 22 until next July, is projected by SoxProspects.com to open the 2025 season at High-A Greenville. While the Red Sox will develop him as a starter out of the gate, there is a strong chance that Neely will ultimately move to the bullpen in the long run given his mechanics, repertoire, and competitive nature.

“We see [the] starter upside, with the ability to create a lot of different shapes and velocity,” Red Sox amateur scouting director Devin Pearson said of Neely when speaking with reporters (including The Boston Globe’s Sarah Barber) following the draft. “He’s a guy we’re really excited to add to our organization and let our pitching department work with.”

(Picture of Brandon Neely: Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)