Tag: pitching prospects

Red Sox get Rule 5 pick Angel Bastardo back from Blue Jays

The Red Sox got former Rule 5 Draft pick Angel Bastardo back from the Blue Jays on Wednesday, per announcements from both clubs. The 23-year-old right-hander was designated for assignment last week after failing to make Toronto’s Opening Day roster and was offered back to Boston for $50,000 upon clearing waivers.

Bastardo was left off the Red Sox’ 40-man roster at the conclusion of the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery that June. That decision made him available to other clubs in that winter’s Rule 5 Draft, and the Blue Jays plucked him with the sixth overall pick (and paid Boston $100,000), knowing full well that he would be sidelined for the foreseeable future while rehabbing.

Upon switching organizations for the first time in his professional career, Bastardo spent all of 2025 on Toronto’s 60-day injured list as he continued to rehab. While he accrued a year’s worth of big league pay and service time, he was still bound by Rule 5 restrictions and therefore needed to spend at least 90 days on the Blue Jays’ active roster heading into 2026.

In his return to the mound this spring, Bastardo showed some signs of rust after a long layoff, allowing four earned runs on five hits, seven walks, and five strikeouts over 7 2/3 Grapefruit League innings (all out of the bullpen). Stuff-wise, the 6-foot-1 righty featured a mid-90s fastball that topped out at 97-98 mph and complemented it with a changeup, slider, and curveball.

Despite the intriguing arsenal, the Blue Jays determined they would be unable to carry Bastardo on their roster to open the season and elected to designate him for assignment when finalizing things last Wednesday. Another team could have claimed him off waivers or traded for him, but they would have been subject to the same Rule 5 stipulations and likely decided against it because of that.

With that being said, the Red Sox do not need to commit a 40-man roster spot to Bastardo, who returns to the organization he originally signed with for $35,000 as an international free agent in July 2018. The native Venezuelan reached the upper-minors for the first time in 2023 and returned to Double-A Portland out of camp in 2024. He posted a 5.36 ERA with 53 strikeouts to 21 walks in 10 starts (45 1/3 innings) for the Sea Dogs before blowing out his elbow and going under the knife that June. At that time, he was ranked by Baseball America as Boston’s No. 27 prospect.

Bastardo, who turns 24 in June, will now report to Fort Myers for extended spring training before any next steps are determined, according to a team source. From there, he will presumably join one of Boston’s upper-level affiliates (like Portland or perhaps even Triple-A Worcester) in the weeks ahead.

In related news, fellow Venezuelan right-hander Jedixson Paez, who was selected by the White Sox in last December’s Rule 5 Draft, was designated for assignment on Wednesday. Paez made Chicago’s Opening Day roster out of spring training but — having never pitched above the High-A level — surrendered six earned runs in three relief outings spanning three innings for the South Siders.

Paez could be claimed off waivers or acquired via trade by another team within the next week. If not, like Bastardo, the 22-year-old might soon find himself back within the Red Sox organization.

(Picture of Angel Bastardo: Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

Red Sox’ Anthony Eyanson named to All-Spring Breakout Second Team after dazzling performance

It may have just been one inning of relief. Still, Red Sox pitching prospect Anthony Eyanson was unquestionably one of the standout performers in Friday night’s Spring Breakout showcase against the Orioles.

On Monday, Eyanson was recognized for his efforts, as he was named to the 2026 All-Spring Breakout Second Team by Major League Baseball.

Eyanson was the last pitcher the Red Sox used in Friday’s 3-1 loss to Orioles minor leaguers under the lights at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fla. The 21-year-old right-hander was both efficient and effective, needing only 14 pitches (10 strikes) to punch out the only three batters he faced (Jose Pena, Cobb Hightower, and Ethan Anderson) in order as part of a scoreless eighth inning.

Of the 14 pitches Eyanson threw, four were whiff-inducing. He mixed in a fastball that averaged 99.1 mph and topped out at 100.2 mph, an 88-90 mph splitter, and an 82-83 mph curveball. All three of his strikeouts were recorded on his wipeout curveball, as he got two looking and one swinging.

“Obviously, I wanted to show off what I’ve been working on as far as the fastball and the splitter, and I feel like I did that tonight,” Eyanson told reporters (including The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier). “[I] really feel myself expanding as a pitcher, being able to use that splitter when I fall behind, getting that arm-side action, giving me a lot more options, especially with the fastball carrying and being a lot harder now. It’s just a lot different.”

For Eyanson, lighting up the radar gun to this extent has not always been the standard. The California native was selected by the Red Sox with the 87th overall pick in last summer’s draft out of Louisiana State, where he typically sat between 92-94 mph and topped out at 97 mph in his lone season with the Tigers. Since signing for an over-slot $1.75 million and subsequently immersing himself in Boston’s pitching development program, however, Eyanson has experienced a significant uptick in velocity.

“The velo jump is hard to ignore,” Red Sox senior director of player development Brian Abraham said of Eyanson when speaking with MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo. “He was mostly 93-95 in college, I know he touched 97, but he’s been sitting 96-98 this spring with secondaries that are advanced for where he is. He just has a really good feel for the baseball, feel to spin the ball, and can challenge the strike zone.”

As a result of reaching triple digits for the first time in a game setting on Friday, Eyanson is now the proud owner of a “Fuego” t-shirt, which the Red Sox award to all pitchers who throw 100 mph. The 6-foot-2, 208-pound righty is currently ranked by MLB Pipeline as the organization’s No. 10 prospect, while Baseball America has him slightly lower at No. 13.

Alongside fellow 2025 draftees (and SEC products) Kyson Witherspoon and Marcus Phillips, Eyanson has been the talk of minor league spring training for the Red Sox in Fort Myers. Even before officially making his professional debut (which he will likely do for High-A Greenville next month), Eyanson’s stock is already on the rise.

“It’s crazy to see the amount of progress that I’ve made,” Eyanson said. “I’m really excited. I feel almost like a brand new pitcher.”

(Picture of Anthony Eyanson: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox pitching prospect Isaac Stebens undergoes Tommy John surgery

Red Sox pitching prospect Isaac Stebens underwent Tommy John surgery last week, according to SoxProspects.com’s Andrew Parker. As a result, he will miss the entire 2026 season and possibly the start of 2027 as well.

Stebens is not ranked among Boston’s top 60 prospects by SoxProspects.com. The 24-year-old right-hander was originally selected by the Red Sox in the 16th round (478th overall) of the 2023 draft out of Oklahoma State. He received an at-slot $150,000 signing bonus and put up solid numbers in each of his first two professional seasons.

After first reaching High-A Greenville in late April 2024, Stebens spent all of 2025 with Boston’s South Atlantic League affiliate. In a team-high 38 relief appearances for the Drive, the righty posted a 2.15 ERA (4.03 FIP) with 59 strikeouts to 29 walks over 50 1/3 innings. Opponents batted just .198 against him as he converted nine of his 10 save opportunities.

Among 85 pitchers who threw at least 50 innings in the hitter-friendly South Atlantic League last year, Stebens notably ranked eighth in ERA, 23rd in batting average against, 26th in strikeouts per nine innings (10.55) and strikeout rate (27.4%), and 37th in groundball rate (42.4%), per FanGraphs.

Following the conclusion of the minor league season, Stebens was one of eight Red Sox prospects who made the trek out west to play in the Arizona Fall League. The 6-foot, 194-pound hurler appeared in eight games out of the bullpen for the Salt River Rafters, allowing five runs (three earned) on eight hits, six walks, and seven strikeouts over seven additional innings of work. Stuff-wise, he featured a sinker, a cutter, a curveball, and a 92-95 mph four-seam fastball.

Stebens, who does not turn 25 until December, was projected to open the 2026 campaign with Double-A Portland, where he would be tasked with facing upper-minors competition for the first time in his career. That challenge will have to wait, as he will now be sidelined and focused on rehab for the foreseeable future.

(Picture of Isaac Stebens: Nick Cammett/Getty Images)

After recent trades, Red Sox pitching prospect Tyler Uberstine stands alone

In late November, the Red Sox protected three pitching prospects from the 2025 Rule 5 Draft by adding left-hander Shane Drohan and right-handers David Sandlin and Tyler Uberstine to their 40-man roster.

Not even three months have passed since then, but Uberstine is now the only one of those three still with the organization. Sandlin was dealt to the White Sox along with Jordan Hicks as part of a salary dump on February 1, while Drohan was one of six players involved in Monday’s trade with the Brewers that sent Caleb Durbin to the Red Sox.

As a member of Boston’s 40-man roster, Uberstine is taking part in his first major league spring training in Fort Myers. The 26-year-old righty is currently ranked by Baseball America as the Red Sox’ No. 14 prospect and has overcome quite a lot of adversity to get to where he is today.

An undersized and overlooked recruit in high school, Uberstine did not receive any scholarship offers out of Chaminade Prep (West Hills, Calif.) in 2017. He enrolled at Southern California and played for the club baseball team as a freshman before trying out for the varsity team ahead of his sophomore season. Though he was ultimately cut, Uberstine had taken what he had learned while working with ex-big leaguer Joe Beimel on the side and transferred to Northwestern for the final two seasons of his collegiate career.

Uberstine leveraged his performance with the Wildcats, as well as the Williamsport Crosscutters of the MLB Draft League, into being selected by the Red Sox in the 19th round of the 2021 draft. As the 556th overall pick, Uberstine received a below-slot $97,500 signing bonus. He debuted professionally in the Florida Complex League and progressed from Low-A Salem to High-A Greenville in his first full season before blowing out his elbow and undergoing Tommy John surgery in June 2023.

Though he was sidelined for all of 2023 and most of the following campaign, Uberstine returned to the mound in August 2024. He made three starts for Greenville before the minor league season ended in early September, and then pitched well for the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League to end an arduous year on a positive note.

Following a healthy offseason and spring, Uberstine broke camp with and got the nod as Double-A Portland’s 2025 Opening Day starter. He posted a 3.64 ERA with 35 strikeouts to just four walks in his first six starts (29 2/3 innings) for the Sea Dogs and was rewarded with a promotion to Triple-A Worcester in mid-May. From there, he forged a 3.56 ERA with 102 strikeouts to 37 walks over 19 outings (15 starts) spanning 91 innings for the WooSox and was named the team’s Co-Most Valuable Pitcher alongside Cooper Criswell.

Among 75 pitchers who threw at least 90 innings at the Triple-A level last year, Uberstine ranked seventh in ERA, strikeouts per nine innings (10.09), and strikeout rate (26.2%), 16th in swinging-strike rate (12.3%), 17th in batting average against (.245), 18th in xFIP (4.54), 27th in WHIP (1.33), and 34th in FIP (4.92), per FanGraphs.

On the 2025 campaign as a whole, Uberstine pitched to a 3.58 ERA (4.33 FIP), recording an organizational-best 137 strikeouts while issuing 41 walks across 25 outings (21 starts) and 120 2/3 innings between Portland and Worcester. Opponents batted .244 against him overall, though he fared better against right-handed hitters (.231) than left-handed hitters (.256) on his way to earning SoxProspects.com’s Comeback Player of the Year honors.

Now standing at 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, Uberstine throws from a low three-quarters arm slot and operates with an arsenal that includes a 92-94 mph fastball that tops out at 96 mph, a mid-80s changeup, a low-80s slider, an upper-80s cutter, a low-90s sinker, and the occasional curveball. His heater, which generated a 37.6% whiff rate at Triple-A last season, was tabbed by Baseball America as one of the top 10 performing fastballs for 2025.

Uberstine, who turns 27 in June, is a long shot to make Boston’s Opening Day roster and is more likely to return to Worcester to begin the 2026 season. That said, now that he is on the Red Sox’ 40-man roster, it would not be at all surprising to see him make his major league debut at some point this year if the need arises.

(Picture of Tyler Uberstine: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Which prospect did Red Sox send to Brewers in six-player trade for Caleb Durbin?

The Red Sox continued to bolster their infield mix on Monday morning by swinging a six-player trade with the Brewers.

In exchange for left-handers Shane Drohan and Kyle Harrison and infielder David Hamilton, Boston acquired infielders Caleb Durbin and Andruw Monasterio and infielder/catcher Anthony Seigler from Milwaukee, the club announced.

Additionally, the Red Sox received a Competitive Balance Round B pick in the 2026 draft from the Brewers. That selection currently projects as the No. 67 overall pick in July’s draft. Boston had previously forfeited its second- and fifth-highest picks after signing Ranger Suarez, who declined a qualifying offer from the Phillies, last month. As a result, the club will now pick first at No. 20 overall, then again at No. 67 with the selection obtained from Milwaukee.

Of the six players — all of whom were on their previous clubs’ 40-man rosters — involved in this deal, Drohan is the only one without prior major league experience and is still considered a prospect. As such, this article will focus on him.

Drohan, who turned 27 last month, was ranked by Baseball America as Boston’s No. 15 prospect before Monday’s trade. The Florida State product has yet to make his big league debut, but has nonetheless been on a unique path since being selected by the Red Sox in the fifth round (148th overall) of the COVID-shortened 2020 draft.

Signed for an above-slot $600,000, Drohan steadily climbed the organizational ladder upon entering the professional ranks. His stock rose significantly to start the 2023 season, as he received a promotion from Double-A Portland to Triple-A Worcester in early May and was selected to the All-Star Futures Game in July. The lefty, however, struggled in his first stint with the WooSox and, as a first-time Rule 5-eligible prospect, was surprisingly left off the Red Sox’ 40-man roster that November.

That decision allowed the White Sox to pluck Drohan with the fourth overall pick in the 2023 Rule 5 Draft. Drohan, unfortunately, required nerve decompression surgery to resolve a longstanding shoulder issue in February 2024. He began the year on the 60-day injured list as a result and was returned to the Red Sox after rehabbing and being designated for assignment that June. He spent the following two months working out in Fort Myers and made two August appearances for Worcester before a bout with left shoulder inflammation ended his season prematurely.

Drohan opened the 2025 campaign in Worcester and put himself back on the map by impressing out of the gate, but his progress stalled yet again when he landed on the injured list with left forearm inflammation in mid-May. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list and spent much of August rehabbing with High-A Greenville before returning to the WooSox in early September for four more starts.

Overall, Drohan forged a 3.00 ERA (3.11 FIP) with 77 strikeouts to 21 walks in 15 outings (14 starts) spanning 54 total innings between Greenville and Worcester last season. That includes a 2.27 ERA (2.85 FIP) with 67 strikeouts to 16 walks in 47 2/3 innings for the WooSox. Opposing hitters in the International League batted just .185 against the 6-foot-3, 195-pound southpaw, who flashed a 92-94 mph fastball that reached 96 mph as well as a cutter, slider, curveball, and changeup.

Alongside right-handers David Sandlin and Tyler Uberstine, Drohan was added to the Red Sox’ 40-man roster for Rule 5 protection purposes in November. He was among those on hand in Fort Myers on the eve of the official start of spring training and was informed that he had been traded while taking his physical Monday morning.

As was the case with Sandlin, who was dealt to the White Sox with Jordan Hicks in a salary dump earlier this month, Drohan did not have a clear path to the majors and seemingly became expendable in the eyes of the Red Sox. Even with concerns surrounding his durability, the Brewers — on the other hand — appear ready to give Drohan a legitimate shot.

“He’s kind of flown under the radar, probably a little bit more than Harrison, but this guy dominated in Triple-A last year,” Brewers president of baseball operations and general manager Matt Arnold said of Drohan when speaking with reporters (including MLB.com’s David Adler). “He was very good. He strikes out a lot of guys and has really good stuff, and our scouts really, really like this guy. He was a very big part of this for us as well.”

(Picture of Shane Drohan: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox pitching prospects Jack Anderson, Eduardo Rivera selected for World Baseball Classic

Red Sox pitching prospects Jack Anderson and Eduardo Rivera were named to Great Britain’s and Puerto Rico’s initial rosters on Thursday for the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

Neither Anderson, a 26-year-old right-hander, nor Rivera, a 22-year-old left-hander, is on Boston’s 40-man roster. Both hurlers joined the organization at different points in 2024, as the former was taken in the minor league phase of that December’s Rule 5 Draft and the latter signed as a minor league free agent six months prior.

Anderson, a former 2021 16th-round draft selection of the Tigers coming out of Florida State, spent most of last season with Double-A Portland. The righty put up solid numbers for the Sea Dogs, posting a 3.58 ERA with 90 strikeouts to 18 walks over 23 outings (four starts) spanning 75 1/3 innings in which opponents batted .244 against him. He also made three starts (one in April, two in September) for Triple-A Worcester but surrendered 14 earned runs in 11 1/3 innings there.

Overall, Anderson forged a 4.57 ERA (3.55 FIP) with 101 strikeouts to 22 walks in 26 total appearances (seven starts) spanning a career-high 86 2/3 innings between Portland and Worcester last year. The 6-foot-3, 197-pounder features a lower-90s four-seam fastball as well as a slider, splitter, cutter, and curveball. He is not currently ranked among the top pitching prospects in Boston’s system by SoxProspects.com.

Rivera, meanwhile, is a former 2021 11th-round draft selection of the Athletics out of Colegio Cadest in Puerto Rico. The San Juan native was released by Oakland in May 2024 and signed a minor league contract with the Red Sox a month later. After splitting the remainder of the season between the Florida Complex League and Low-A Salem, Rivera impressed in winter ball and broke camp with High-A Greenville last spring.

To begin his first full season in the organization, Rivera posted a 1.61 ERA with 68 strikeouts to 16 walks over 10 outings (six starts) and 44 2/3 innings for the Drive before receiving a promotion to Portland in late June. Though he experienced some growing pains along the way, Rivera managed a 3.40 ERA with 40 strikeouts to 30 walks in 10 appearances (nine starts) and 42 1/3 innings for the Sea Dogs. Opposing hitters in the Eastern League batted .214 against him.

Altogether, Rivera produced a 2.48 ERA (3.22 FIP) with 108 strikeouts to 46 walks in 20 outings (15 starts) spanning a career-high 87 innings between Greenville and Portland in 2025. The 6-foot-7, 237-pound southpaw can reach 98 mph with his upper-90s fastball and also operates with a cutter, slider, changeup, and curveball. He is currently ranked by SoxProspects.com as the No. 42 prospect in Boston’s system after being brought back on a minor league contract in October.

Rivera, unsurprisingly, spent his offseason once again pitching in winter ball. He helped the Cangrejeros de Santurce win its 17th LBPRC title last month and, as a result, is now representing Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Series, which runs through February 7 down in Mexico.

Assuming they get through next month’s World Baseball Classic unscathed, both Anderson and Rivera are projected by SoxProspects.com to return to Portland for the start of the 2026 season.

(Picture of Jack Anderson: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox LHP prospect Jeremy Wu-Yelland earns first big league camp invite

The Red Sox invited 14 minor leaguers to major league spring training on Friday. Of those 14, Jeremy Wu-Yelland was the only left-handed pitcher to make the cut.

Wu-Yelland will be attending his first big league spring training camp in Fort Myers beginning next month. The 26-year-old is currently regarded as SoxProspects.com’s No. 48 prospect, which ranks 24th among pitchers in Boston’s farm system.

A former fourth-round draft selection of the Red Sox out of Hawaii in 2020 (who underwent Tommy John surgery in 2022), Wu-Yelland is coming off an encouraging 2025 season. After pitching for China in World Baseball Classic qualifiers in the spring, the lefty broke camp with High-A Greenville. He posted a 3.09 ERA with 20 strikeouts to five walks in seven relief appearances (11 2/3 innings) for the Drive and was rewarded with a promotion to Double-A Portland in early May.

Although lower back stiffness cost him roughly one month of action across two separate trips to the injured list, Wu-Yelland was extremely productive when on the mound for the Sea Dogs. He pitched to a 3.18 ERA with 51 strikeouts to 11 walks in 18 relief appearances (34 innings) and held opposing Eastern League hitters to a .193 batting average.

Overall, Wu-Yelland forged a 3.15 ERA with 71 strikeouts to 16 walks in 25 total relief outings (45 2/3 innings) between Greenville and Portland last season. Left-handed hitters batted just .172 against him, while right-handed hitters fared slightly better at a .220 clip.

Among 53 Red Sox minor leaguers who, regardless of level, threw at least 45 innings in 2025, Wu-Yelland ranked first in strikeouts per nine innings (13.99), strikeout rate (37.6 percent), and xFIP (2.52), fifth in WHIP (1.07) and FIP (2.86), 10th in batting average against (.201), 12th in walks per nine innings (3.15), 14th in walk rate (8.5 percent), 17th in swinging-strike rate (13.5 percent), and 18th in ERA, per FanGraphs.

In addition to earning 2025 SoxProspects.com All-Star honors, Wu-Yelland drew considerable Rule 5 buzz this offseason after being left unprotected by the Red Sox in November. Though there was “smoke” that Wu-Yelland might be taken high in the hours leading up to last month’s Rule 5 Draft, he went unselected and remains in Boston’s system without occupying a 40-man roster spot.

That status could, of course, change if Wu-Yelland impresses this spring and leverages his performance into a big league call-up at some point this season. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound southpaw throws from a lower three-quarters arm slot and incorporates a medium leg kick into his deceptive delivery. As noted in his SoxProspects.com scouting report, he features a 90-92 mph cut-slider, a 94-96 mph fastball that tops out at 97-98 mph, and a 79-82 mph sweeper with a “very high” spin rate.

If Wu-Yelland, who turns 27 in June, does not make Boston’s Opening Day roster out of spring training, he is projected by SoxProspects.com to open the 2026 season in Triple-A Worcester’s bullpen. He could join fellow lefties Tyler Samaniego and Alec Gamboa in that regard.

(Picture of Jeremy Wu-Yelland: Kyle Mace/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)

Which pitching prospects did Red Sox trade to Cardinals for Willson Contreras?

For the second time in as many months, the Red Sox swung a significant trade with the Cardinals on Sunday night.

After matching up on a deal that sent veteran starter Sonny Gray to Boston and pitchers Richard Fitts and Brandon Clarke to St. Louis in late November, Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom connected yet again to close out the final weekend before Christmas.

As was first reported by Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Red Sox acquired first baseman Willson Contreras and $8 million in cash considerations from the Cardinals for right-handers Hunter Dobbins, Yhoiker Fajardo, and Blake Aita.

This article will focus on the two prospects swapping teams in the deal: Fajardo and Aita.

Fajardo, who turned 19 in October, was ranked by Baseball America as Boston’s No. 9 prospect. The Venezuelan-born righty was acquired by the Red Sox from the White Sox for left-handed reliever Cam Booser exactly one year ago Sunday. He originally signed with Chicago for $400,000 as an international free agent in February 2024 and earned Dominican Summer League All-Star honors in his professional debut.

Fajardo undoubtedly took another step forward in his stateside debut this past season. In 19 outings (17 starts) between the Florida Complex League and Low-A Salem, he posted a 2.25 ERA (2.47 FIP) with 83 strikeouts to 27 walks over 72 innings in which opponents batted .204 against him. That includes a 2.98 ERA (2.50 FIP) in his final 13 starts (51 1/3 innings) after being promoted in June. He was named the Carolina League Pitcher of the Week twice and the Carolina League Pitcher of the Month for August.

Among 96 Carolina League pitchers who threw at least 50 innings in 2025, Fajardo ranked third in FIP and swinging-strike rate (15.9 percent), ninth in strikeout rate (27.8 percent), 11th in strikeouts per nine innings (10.34) and xFIP (3.14), 15th in groundball rate (50 percent), 26th in ERA, 33rd in WHIP (1.23), 36th in walks per nine innings (3.51), 39th in walk rate (9.4 percent), and 41st in batting average against (.229), per FanGraphs.

Listed at a projectable 6-foot-3 and 181 pounds, Fajardo throws from a three-quarters arm slot and incorporates a high leg kick into his repeatable delivery. He operates with a four-pitch mix that includes a 93-96 mph two/four-seam fastball that can reach 97 mph, an 82-86 mph slider, and an 85-88 mph kick-changeup, as noted in his SoxProspects.com scouting report.

Aita, meanwhile, was set to be ranked by Baseball America as Boston’s No. 26 prospect. The 22-year-old righty was selected by the Red Sox in the sixth round (177th overall) of the 2024 draft out of Kennesaw State and received an under-slot $300,000 signing bonus. He split his first full professional season between Salem and Greenville, posting a 3.98 ERA (4.10 FIP) with 99 strikeouts to 30 walks over 23 total outings (19 starts) spanning 115 1/3 innings in which opposing hitters batted .215 against him.

After taking home Carolina League Pitcher of the Week honors on two separate occasions early in the season, Aita was promoted to Greenville on June 10. From there, he closed out the 2025 campaign by forging a 3.78 ERA (4.61 FIP) with 54 strikeouts to 21 walks in 13 outings (10 starts) and 64 1/3 innings for the Drive. He held opponents in the hitter-friendly South Atlantic League to a .194 batting average.

Among 55 South Atlantic League pitchers who threw at least 60 innings in 2025, Aita notably ranked sixth in WHIP (1.03), 10th in batting average against, 16th in line-drive rate (19.8 percent), 19th in walks per nine innings (2.94), and 21st in walk rate (8.1 percent), per FanGraphs.

Known for his ability to spin the ball, Aita throws from a high-three-quarters arm slot and incorporates a high leg kick into his delivery. As noted in his SoxProspects.com scouting report, the 6-foot-4, 215-pound hurler features a 92-95 mph fastball while also mixing in an 80-82 mph sweeper, an 86-89 mph cutter, and an 85-89 mph changeup into his arsenal.

(Picture of Willson Contreras: Matt Dirksen/Getty Images)

Red Sox trade Luis Perales to Nationals for fellow pitching prospect Jake Bennett

The Red Sox and Nationals swung an interesting trade involving two pitching prospects on Monday night, with Boston acquiring left-hander Jake Bennett from Washington for right-hander Luis Perales.

Neither Bennett nor Perales has pitched in the majors yet, though they were already on their respective clubs’ 40-man rosters. Bennett was added last month, so he has three minor league options remaining. Perales, on the other hand, was added in November 2023 and has just one option remaining.

This unique one-for-one swap marks the first major trade Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has made with one of his former top lieutenants in Paul Toboni, who left his role as assistant general manager in October to take over as the Nationals’ president of baseball operations.

Bennett, who turned 25 earlier this month, was originally selected by the Nationals in the second round (45th overall) of the 2022 draft out of Oklahoma. The former Sooner received a $1,734,800 signing bonus and made his professional debut in April 2023, only to undergo Tommy John surgery that September and miss the entire 2024 season as a result.

Bennett returned to the mound this past May and pitched at three levels, posting a 2.27 ERA (2.96 FIP) with 64 strikeouts to 19 walks over 19 appearances. (18 starts) totaling 75 1/3 innings between Low-A, High-A, and Double-A. Upon being promoted from High-A Wilmington to Double-A Harrisburg in July, the lefty forged a 2.56 ERA (3.20 FIP) with 33 strikeouts to 11 walks in 10 outings (nine starts) and 45 2/3 innings. He then struck out 25 (and walked only five) across 20 innings in the Arizona Fall League en route to being named an AFL All-Star.

Added to the Nationals’ 40-man roster for Rule 5 Draft protection purposes in November, Bennett was ranked as the organization’s No. 6 prospect by Baseball America, which characterized him as “a no-doubt starter with a good chance to settle in as a No. 4 type in a rotation.” Per his BA scouting report, the 6-foot-6, 234-pound southpaw has “a wide assortment of pitches that play up because he gets down the mound with plus extension. While he doesn’t blow batters away with raw velocity, Bennett is around the zone with six different pitches he can use to attack both sides of the plate. His four-seam fastball velocity was a tick higher in 2025 than it had been during his pro debut and averaged 92-93 mph and topped out near 96.

“His low three-quarters arm slot adds deception,” it continues. “He mixes in sinkers and occasional cutters to vary his fastball looks. Bennett’s carrying secondary pitch is his mid-80s changeup that fades to his arm side and flummoxes minor league right-handed batters, who hit .210 with no home runs against him in 2025. He has good touch on an average low-to-mid-80s slider and high-70s curveball, both of which he can spot for strikes and elicit some chases. He throws breaking pitches only about 20% of the time, opting for more of a fastball/changeup attack. Bennett has plus control of his entire arsenal.”

In a text exchange with MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo, Breslow said that the Red Sox “feel like Bennett is a high probability starter that excels in some things that are hard to teach. Fastball playability driven by above-average extension and strike-throwing ability. His whiff rates and ability to manage hard contact have us confident in his ability to be a major league starter.”

Perales, who turns 23 in April, was ranked as Boston’s No. 5 prospect by Baseball America, which described him as having “a bazooka” for an arm. The native Venezuelan originally signed with the Red Sox for $75,000 as an international free agent in July 2019 and steadily rose through the system before reaching Double-A Portland in May 2024. He, unfortunately, tore the UCL in his pitching elbow and underwent Tommy John surgery the following month.

After a lengthy rehab process, Perales returned to Portland and reached Triple-A Worcester late in the 2025 season, appearing in three games for the two affiliates. Like Bennett, Perales then headed out west to pitch in the Arizona Fall League. There, the hard-throwing righty got up to 101 mph with his fastball and earned AFL All-Star honors, though he walked 11 (and struck out 19) in his 11 1/3 innings of work.

Unlike Bennett, Perales is more undersized at 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds. Before Monday’s trade, he was expected to possibly factor into Boston’s 2026 rotation mix alongside other young pitchers like Connelly Early, Payton Tolle, Kyle Harrison, and Hunter Dobbins, among others. He will now begin this next chapter of his professional career with a rebuilding Nationals team and should have a chance to reach the majors as soon as next year.

(Picture of Luis Perales: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Longtime Red Sox pitching prospect Bryan Mata taking talents to Japan, signing with NPB’s Yomiuri Giants

Earlier this week, it was revealed that longtime Red Sox pitching prospect Bryan Mata was taking his talents to Japan. Though terms have not yet been disclosed, it appears as though the 26-year-old right-hander is signing with the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball.

Originally signed by the Red Sox for $25,000 as an international free agent in January 2016, Mata spent 10 years in the organization without ever reaching the majors. Upon entering the professional ranks, the native Venezuelan quickly emerged as one of Boston’s premier pitching talents and represented the club in the 2018 All-Star Futures Game at just 19. He was ranked by Baseball America as a top-10 prospect in the team’s farm system each year from 2018 to 2023, peaking at No. 4 on three occasions.

Despite showing intriguing flashes at times, Mata’s tenure with the Red Sox was ultimately marred by injuries. After being added to the club’s 40-man roster for Rule 5 Draft protection purposes in November 2020, for instance, the right-hander suffered a slight UCL tear that resulted in him undergoing Tommy John surgery and missing the entire 2021 season. He returned to action in June 2022 and ended the year on a high note, only to suffer additional setbacks in 2023 and 2024.

In 2024 alone, Mata was limited to just 22 2/3 innings across four minor league levels due to a plethora of injuries. After being pulled from multiple rehab assignments and landing on the 60-day injured list, Mata — who was out of options — was designated for assignment and subsequently non-tendered last November. The Red Sox then brought him back on a minor league contract for 2025 that included an invitation to major league spring training.

As part of an impressive camp in Fort Myers, Mata appeared in four Grapefruit League games this past spring and was one of manager Alex Cora’s final roster cuts before Opening Day. The hard-throwing righty ended up spending all of 2025 at Triple-A Worcester, posting a 5.08 ERA with 93 strikeouts to 39 walks over 42 relief appearances (67 1/3 innings) in which opponents batted .268 against him. Though Mata displayed significant velocity on his fastball and the ability to induce whiffs with his secondaries, he never really factored into Boston’s big league bullpen mix.

A minor league free agent at season’s end, Mata drew widespread interest from MLB teams looking to bring him in on a non-roster deal for 2026. The Red Sox were not among them, according to MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo, who noted that Mata also had offers from other overseas clubs.

Mata, who turns 27 in May, will now look to turn a new leaf in Japan and perhaps re-establish his value there if he plans on returning to the United States in the future. In the meantime, Mata is freshly removed from a strong stint in the Venezuelan Winter League, as he forged a 1.57 ERA with 34 strikeouts to seven walks over nine outings (seven starts) spanning 34 1/3 innings for the Navegantes del Magallanes.

(Picture of Bryan Mata: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)