Tag: gage ziehl

How Red Sox pitching prospect Gage Ziehl fared in 2026 after ‘crazy’ trade

After coming over from the White Sox in a February trade, Gage Ziehl made more starts and pitched more innings than any other Red Sox minor leaguer in 2026. This article will take a look at how the 23-year-old right-hander fared during his first season with the organization.

Acquired from Chicago for fellow righties Jordan Hicks and David Sandlin (as well as cash considerations), Ziehl opened the 2026 campaign at Double-A Portland but got off to a rocky start. He struggled to a 5.94 ERA through his first seven starts (33 1/3 innings) for the Sea Dogs before turning a corner as the calendar flipped from May to June.

From May 31 onward, Ziehl posted a 3.21 ERA with 61 strikeouts to 11 walks in his next 10 starts (47 2/3 innings) for Portland before being promoted to Triple-A Worcester on August 4. He then closed out an eventful season by pitching to a 4.17 ERA with 33 strikeouts to seven walks over eight starts (41 innings) for the WooSox in his first go-around at the minors’ highest level.

Altogether, then, Ziehl forged a 4.28 ERA with 129 strikeouts to just 25 walks in 25 starts (122 innings) between Portland and Worcester. Opponents batted .269/.314/.448 against him. That includes a .287/.342/.502 line from right-handed hitters and a .249/.283/.391 line from left-handed hitters.

In addition to leading Red Sox minor leaguers in starts and innings pitched, Ziehl stood out in several other categories as well. Among the 50 pitchers in the organization who threw at least 50 innings this season, the righty ranked third in walks per nine (1.84) and walk rate (4.8%), fifth in groundball rate (52.1%) and xFIP (3.71), 15th in WHIP (1.27), 17th in ERA, and 21st in FIP (4.28), according to FanGraphs.

A University of Miami product, Ziehl was originally selected by the Yankees in the fourth round (119th overall) of the 2024 draft. He received a $637,000 signing bonus and made his professional debut last April before being traded to the White Sox for Austin Slater less than four months later. In February, as he was preparing for the start of spring training, he was on the move yet again.

“The whole trade experience here was a bit crazy,” Ziehl recalled to SoxProspects.com’s Andrew Parker in August. “I trained in Florida over the offseason and had already shipped my car to Arizona for White Sox camp. I was about to board my connecting flight to Arizona when I got a call asking if I had already booked a flight out. I had already boarded and [was] on the runway when I got a call from the assistant general manager from Chicago saying I had been traded. I couldn’t get off the plane by this point. So, I made my flight, shipped my car to Fort Myers, and was there the next day.”

Since joining the Red Sox organization, Ziehl has worked to lower his arm slot and revamp his diverse arsenal. This season, the 6-foot, 223-pound hurler featured a six-pitch mix consisting of a newly implemented 85-88 mph changeup and 90-94 mph sinker, as well as a 91-93 mph fastball that topped out at 95 mph, an 88-91 mph cutter, an 82-84 mph sweeper, and a 79-80 mph curveball.

On the heels of his second full professional season, Ziehl is currently ranked as Boston’s No. 17 prospect by MLB Pipeline and No. 21 by SoxProspects.com. Baseball America, meanwhile, does not include him among the organization’s top 30 prospects.

Barring a trade or other move this winter, SoxProspects.com projects that Ziehl — who will not turn 24 until next May — will return to Worcester to begin the 2027 season. Given his ability to fill the strike zone, limit walks, and get outs, however, there is reason to believe he could earn a big league opportunity with the Red Sox at some point.

(Picture of Gage Ziehl: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox promote pitching prospect Gage Ziehl to Triple-A Worcester

The Red Sox have promoted pitching prospect Gage Ziehl from Double-A Portland to Triple-A Worcester, per the club’s MiLB.com transactions log.

Ziehl is currently regarded by MLB Pipeline as Boston’s No. 17 prospect, ranking eighth among pitchers in the system. The 23-year-old right-hander has spent all of 2026 to this point with Portland, posting a 4.33 ERA with 96 strikeouts to 18 walks over 17 starts (81 innings). Opposing hitters batted .278/.324/.459 in 354 plate appearances against him.

Among 19 qualified pitchers in the Eastern League entering play this week, Ziehl ranked first in walks per nine innings (2.00) and walk rate (5.1%), second in xFIP (3.51), fifth in FIP (4.13), groundball rate (51.5%), strikeouts per nine (10.67) and strikeout rate (27.1%), sixth in WHIP (1.35), and eighth in swinging-strike rate (12.2%), according to FanGraphs.

Originally selected by the Yankees in the fourth round of the 2024 draft out of Miami, Ziehl has already been involved in two significant trades since entering the professional ranks. Last July, he was dealt to the White Sox for outfielder Austin Slater. Just over six months later, he was again on the move, this time going to the Red Sox for fellow righties Jordan Hicks and David Sandlin (plus cash) in early February.

After splitting his first full season in pro ball between three levels and four affiliates, Ziehl overcame a rocky start and has held his own at Double-A this year. The 6-foot, 223-pound hurler features a strong command profile and a five-pitch mix consisting of a 91-93 mph fastball that tops out at 95 mph, an 88-91 mph cutter, an 83-87 mph sweeper, a 79-82 mph curveball, and an 86-88 mph changeup.

Ziehl joins Blake Wehunt and John Holobetz as notable Red Sox pitching prospects who have made the jump from Portland to Worcester this season. After last pitching on Sunday, his Triple-A debut will likely come in the latter half of the WooSox’ upcoming series against Lehigh Valley at Polar Park.

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

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)