Tag: gage ziehl

How Red Sox pitching prospect Gage Ziehl is faring with Double-A Portland

After a rocky start to his first season in the organization, Red Sox pitching prospect Gage Ziehl appears to be settling in with Double-A Portland.

Ziehl showed as much in his latest start for Portland this past Friday night by striking out seven consecutive batters at one point. Going up against Somerset at Hadlock Field, the 23-year-old right-hander retired seven straight Patriots hitters via strikeout from the first inning through the middle of the third.

The streak ended when Somerset’s Garrett Martin grounded out to lead off the fourth, leaving Ziehl one shy of the Sea Dogs’ franchise record of eight consecutive strikeouts set by Clay Buchholz in 2007.

In all, Ziehl struck out a career-high of nine without issuing a walk over five solid innings in which he allowed two earned runs on four hits. The righty threw 76 pitches (54 strikes), generating 12 whiffs and topping out at 94.5 mph with his fastball. He also picked up the winning decision as the Sea Dogs defeated the Patriots by a final score of 6-2.

Following Friday’s performance, Ziehl is now 3-2 with a 4.56 ERA and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 61:10 through 11 starts (53 1/3 innings) for Portland this season. Dating back to May 24, however, he has forged a 2.55 ERA with 30 strikeouts to seven walks across his last five outings and 24 2/3 innings. Opponents are batting just .207 against him in that stretch.

Among the 37 pitchers who have thrown at least 50 innings in the Eastern League this year, Ziehl owns the best walks-per-nine mark (1.69) and walk rate (4.3%). He also ranks third in xFIP (3.43), seventh in groundball rate (52.3%), 10th in FIP (4.14), strikeouts per nine (10.29), and strikeout rate (26.4%), and 14th in WHIP (1.33), according to FanGraphs.

Ziehl, who turned 23 last month, was acquired by the Red Sox in February as part of a trade with the White Sox that sent fellow righties Jordan Hicks and David Sandlin, two players to be named later, and cash to Chicago. Boston also received a player to be named later in the deal.

That marked the second time that Ziehl, a former fourth-round draft pick of the Yankees out of the University of Miami in 2024, had been traded since beginning his professional career. New York sent him to Chicago in exchange for veteran outfielder Austin Slater last July.

Now on his third organization, Ziehl is currently regarded by MLB Pipeline as Boston’s No. 20 prospect, ranking 11th among pitchers in the system. In addition to boasting a strong command profile and a mid-90s fastball, the 6-foot, 223-pound hurler features an 88-91 mph cutter, an 83-87 mph sweeper, a 79-82 mph curveball, and an 86-88 mph changeup.

Barring another trade between now and the August 3 deadline, it would not be all that surprising to see Ziehl work his way up to Triple-A Worcester before the end of the season. He could strengthen his case for such a promotion if he continues pitching the way he has as of late.

(Picture of Gage Ziehl courtesy of the Portland Sea Dogs)

Which prospect did Red Sox acquire from White Sox for Jordan Hicks, David Sandlin?

The Red Sox swung a creative, financially motivated trade with the White Sox on Sunday that netted them salary relief, roster flexibility, and a new pitching prospect.

In exchange for right-handers Jordan Hicks and David Sandlin, along with $8 million in cash considerations and two players to be named later, Boston acquired minor league righty Gage Ziehl and one player to be named later from Chicago.

By dealing Hicks (who came over from the Giants as part of the blockbuster Rafael Devers trade last June) and Sandlin (an electrifying prospect who was added to the 40-man roster for Rule 5 Draft protection purposes in November), the Red Sox cleared two 40-man spots on Sunday, potentially paving the way for additional moves to be made more easily in the coming weeks.

Ziehl was originally selected by the Yankees in the fourth round (119th overall) of the 2024 draft out of Miami. The 22-year-old received an above-slot $637,000 signing bonus but did not make his professional debut until last April. He split the first four months of the 2025 season between New York’s Low-A, High-A, and Double-A affiliates before being dealt to the White Sox for outfielder Austin Slater on July 30.

From there, Ziehl posted a 4.01 ERA with 20 strikeouts to five walks in six starts (24 2/3 innings) for Chicago’s High-A affiliate to end the season. He finished the year having forged a 4.12 ERA (3.39 FIP) with 90 strikeouts to 19 walks in 22 total outings (21 starts) spanning 107 innings between Low-A (74 1/3 innings), High-A (28 2/3 innings), and Double-A (4 innings). Altogether, opposing hitters batted .274 against him.

Ziehl was ranked by Baseball America as the White Sox’ No. 21 prospect at the time of Sunday’s trade. The 6-foot, 223-pound hurler does not throw particularly hard but does know how to control and command the strike zone. He features a wide pitch mix that includes a 92 mph fastball that topped out at 95 mph last year, a mid-80s sweeper, an upper-80s cutter, and a scarcely-used 80 mph curveball.

Barring another move, Ziehl — who turns 23 in May — is likely to open the 2026 season in Double-A Portland’s starting rotation. He is not eligible for the Rule 5 Draft until 2027.

 (Picture of Gage Ziehl: Samuel Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)