Tag: pitching prospects

Red Sox pitching prospect Juan Valera undergoes Tommy John surgery

Red Sox pitching prospect Juan Valera underwent Tommy John surgery on Tuesday, according to senior director of player development Brian Abraham.

“Juan Valera underwent successful reconstruction of the right elbow ulnar collateral ligament yesterday,” Abraham told The Boston Globe on Wednesday. “The procedure was performed by Dr. Jeffrey R. Dugas at Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center in Birmingham, Ala.”

Valera, who turns 20 later this month, injured his pitching elbow in the second inning of his third start of the season for High-A Greenville on April 16. The young right-hander was in visible discomfort after delivering his 22nd pitch of the night. He crouched behind the mound and talked with his teammates and coaches before leaving the field with a trainer.

Initially, the injury was diagnosed as elbow inflammation. The Red Sox held off on imaging until the swelling subsided, then sent Valera for additional opinions last week. It appears the most recent MRI revealed the worst-case scenario, prompting the decision to have Valera go under the knife on Tuesday.

For Valera, Tuesday’s surgery marks the abrupt end to a 2026 season that got off to a promising start. In three starts for Greenville, the 6-foot-3, 205-pound righty allowed just two earned runs over 9 1/3 innings (1.93 ERA), striking out 17 and walking four while holding opposing hitters to a .125 batting average. He reached 101.7 mph with his upper-90s fastball on April 9 and also incorporated a slider, sweeper, and changeup into his pitch mix.

A native of the Dominican Republic, Valera originally signed with the Red Sox for $45,000 as an international free agent in April 2023. Following an uninspiring professional debut in the 2023 Dominican Summer League, he broke out in 2024 by earning Florida Complex League All-Star honors and reaching Low-A Salem. He broke camp with High-A Greenville as an 18-year-old last spring, but was limited to just 10 starts (38 innings) in 2025 due to elbow soreness.

Valera entered 2026 ranked by Baseball America as the No. 4 pitching prospect in Boston’s farm system, behind lefties Payton Tolle and Connelly Early and righty Kyson Witherspoon. He briefly cracked the outlet’s top 100 prospects list at No. 100 thanks to his hot start, but has since dropped out of the rankings.

In addition to missing the remainder of the 2026 season, Valera will likely be sidelined for much of 2027 as well. That timeline is noteworthy, as he is set to become Rule 5-eligible for the first time that winter.

(Picture of Juan Valera: Gwinn Davis/Greenville Drive)

Red Sox promote pitching prospect Dylan Brown to High-A Greenville

The Red Sox have promoted pitching prospect Dylan Brown from Low-A Salem to High-A Greenville, as was first reported by Chris Hatfield of SoxProspects.com.

Brown, who turns 22 next month, was Boston’s eighth-round pick (238th overall) in last summer’s draft out of Old Dominion. The left-hander received an at-slot $229,000 signing bonus but did not make his professional debut until April 2. He has since gotten his pro career off to a promising start.

In five starts for Salem, Brown forged a 2.31 ERA with 32 strikeouts to 13 walks over 23 1/3 innings in which he held Carolina League opponents to just a .181/.299/.241 clip. That includes a .167/.274/.185 line against right-handed hitters and a .207/.343/.345 line against left-handed hitters.

Among 23 qualified Carolina League pitchers entering play Tuesday, Brown ranked third in groundball rate (59.2%), fourth in FIP (2.83), strikeouts per nine (12.34) and strikeout rate (33%), sixth in batting average against and ERA, and seventh in swinging-strike rate (15.4 percent) and xFIP (3.80), per FanGraphs.

A Pennsylvania native, Brown is currently ranked by SoxProspects.com as Boston’s No. 60 prospect but figures to move up in the site’s next update. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound southpaw has a deceptive delivery and features a four-pitch mix that consists of a lower-90s fastball that has reached 95 mph, an upper-80s cutter, a lower-80s slider, and a lower-80s changeup.

“So far, he’s been able to consistently keep hitters off balance and locate all his pitches around the strike zone,” Baseball America’s Ian Cundall (formerly SoxProspects.com’s scouting director) wrote of Brown last month. “If that continues, he could become another intriguing pitching prospect to watch in a system full of them.”

With fast-rising righty Anthony Eyanson moving up to Double-A Portland, Brown will be tasked with facing more advanced competition at High-A. He joins a Greenville starting rotation that includes fellow 2025 draftees Kyson Witherspoon and Marcus Phillips. The Drive open a six-game series on the road against the Greensboro Grasshoppers on Tuesday night.

(Picture of Dylan Brown: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox to promote top pitching prospect Anthony Eyanson to Double-A Portland

After a handful of starts for High-A Greenville, Anthony Eyanson is ready to move up to the next level. The Red Sox are promoting the talented pitching prospect to Double-A Portland, according to Chase Ford of MiLB Central.

Eyanson is just days removed from making his fifth (and perhaps final) start for Greenville at home this past Friday. Going up against Hub City at Fluor Field, the 21-year-old right-hander allowed one hit and three walks (the first three of his professional career) while striking out seven of the 15 batters he faced over 3 2/3 scoreless innings. He threw 67 pitches (37 strikes) and generated 11 whiffs.

In five starts for Greenville altogether, Eyanson posted a minuscule 0.44 ERA with 34 strikeouts to three walks over 20 1/3 innings. Opponents in the South Atlantic League batted just .104/.155/.149 against him. That includes a .114/.139/.114 line from right-handed hitters and a .094/.171/.188 line from left-handed hitters.

Among 26 South Atlantic League pitchers who had thrown at least 20 innings this year entering play Sunday, Eyanson led in batting average against, ERA, FIP (1.46), strikeouts per nine (15.05), strikeout rate (47.9%), swinging-strike rate (22%), WHIP (0.49), and xFIP (1.31). He also ranked third in groundball rate (59.4%) and walks per nine (1.33), and fourth in walk rate (4.2%), per FanGraphs.

Eyanson was selected by the Red Sox with the 87th overall pick in last summer’s draft out of Louisiana State (by way of UC San Diego). The California native received an over-slot $1.75 million signing bonus and stood out in his first spring training with the club by displaying significant velocity gains. He touched triple digits in the Spring Breakout game on March 20 before breaking camp with Greenville in early April.

Since making his pro debut one month ago, Eyanson — throwing from a high release point — has hovered between 95-97 mph and topped out at 98-99 mph with his fastball. The 6-foot-2, 208-pound hurler also incorporates an 86-88 mph slider, a cut-splitter, and a 79-80 mph high-spin curveball into his arsenal, which he described to The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier as “very vertical.”

“I think north-south, and just keeping stuff over the plate and in the zone,” Eyanson told Speier last Thursday. “I’m trying to throw everything in the zone and just let the pitch move on its own, and let the hitter give himself his own problems.”

Eyanson, who does not turn 22 until October, entered 2026 as Baseball America’s No. 13 Red Sox prospect but now has legitimate top 100 buzz surrounding him. He is the first member of Boston’s 2025 draft class to reach Double-A and, like left-hander Payton Tolle a year ago, could be on the fast track to the major leagues.

First, though, comes a new challenge: facing more advanced competition in the upper minors with Portland. The Sea Dogs open a six-game series against New Hampshire at Hadlock Field on Tuesday.

(Picture of Anthony Eyanson: Gwinn Davis/Greenville Drive)

Red Sox’ Anthony Eyanson off to eye-opening start at High-A Greenville

With the calendar flipping to May, the first month of Anthony Eyanson’s first full professional season is in the books. It ended without the talented Red Sox pitching prospect issuing a single walk.

Though he did hit a batter, Eyanson was otherwise in control for High-A Greenville. In four April starts, the 21-year-old right-hander posted a 0.54 ERA with 27 strikeouts to zero walks over 16 2/3 innings. Opposing hitters in the South Atlantic League batted just .109 against him.

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For Eyanson, each of those strikeouts carries extra meaning. As he explained to Baseball America’s Ian Cundall last month, Eyanson is donating money to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) for each strikeout he records this season. The motivation to do so stems from his own experience.

At the age of 10 in 2015, Eyanson was diagnosed with achalasia, a rare disorder that affects the esophagus and makes it hard to swallow. He underwent four procedures that summer and has been symptom-free since.

“I feel very normal now,” Eyanson told Cundall. “I have no problems eating pretty much all foods, which is a very big blessing.”

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Eyanson, who is scheduled to make his fifth start for Greenville against Hub City on Friday night, enters the weekend as one of 52 pitchers who have thrown at least 15 innings in the South Atlantic League this season. Among those 52, he leads in FIP (1.30), strikeouts per nine innings (14.58), strikeout rate (48.2%), swinging-strike rate (23.7%), walks per nine innings (0.00), walk rate (0.0%), WHIP (0.36), and xFIP (0.93). He also ranks second in batting average against, ERA, and groundball rate (63%), per FanGraphs.

Selected by the Red Sox with the 87th overall pick in last summer’s draft, Eyanson signed for an over-slot $1.75 million bonus. The Louisiana State product stood out in his first spring training in Fort Myers, displaying significant velocity gains and earning All-Spring Breakout Second Team honors. Alongside fellow top 2025 draftees (and SEC alums) Kyson Witherspoon and Marcus Phillips, Eyanson received a season-opening assignment to Greenville.

Since making his pro debut four weeks ago, Eyanson has featured a 94-96 mph fastball that has reached 99 mph. The 6-foot-2, 208-pound righty complements his heater with an 86-88 mph slider that may very well be his best pitch, a cut-splitter, and a 79-80 mph curveball. Baseball America recently identified him as one of 10 standout pitching prospects from April.

Eyanson, who does not turn 22 until October, was ranked by Baseball America as Boston’s No. 13 prospect coming into 2026. Not only does the California native appear poised to climb that list, but he has also emerged as a prime candidate to crack the outlet’s top 100 “sooner or later.” He could further strengthen his case with a promotion to Double-A Portland, though such a move may still be weeks away given how the Red Sox have managed his workload thus far.

(Picture of Anthony Eyanson: Gwinn Davis/Greenville Drive)

Red Sox pitching prospect Dylan Brown off to promising start with Low-A Salem

From Boston on down, several Red Sox pitching prospects have stood out in the early stages of the 2026 season. One name that may be flying under the radar, though, is Dylan Brown.

Brown made this week’s Baseball America Hot Sheet as a prospect with “helium” after his most recent start for Low-A Salem last Thursday. In a season-high 5 2/3 innings against Fredericksburg at home, the 21-year-old left-hander allowed four runs (one earned) on three hits, two walks, and seven strikeouts. He threw 83 pitches (56 strikes) and generated 19 whiffs, the most at the Low-A level that night.

Through four starts for Salem to begin his professional career, Brown has forged a 3.06 ERA with a staff-leading 25 strikeouts to 10 walks over 17 2/3 innings in which opponents have batted just .190 against him. That includes a .211/.318/.316 line against left-handed hitters and a .182/.294/.205 line against right-handed hitters.

“The most impressive aspect of Brown’s game so far is his ability to get right-handed hitters out,” Baseball America’s Ian Cundall (formerly SoxProspects.com’s director of scouting) wrote on Monday. “He neutralizes any platoon advantage with his changeup, which had a 42% whiff rate in college, and its bat-missing ability has carried over to pro ball.”

Among 24 qualified Carolina League pitchers entering play Tuesday, Brown ranks third in groundball rate (56.8%), fourth in FIP (2.69), strikeouts per nine innings (12.74) and strikeout rate (34.2%), fifth in batting average against, ninth in swinging-strike rate (14.3%) and xFIP (3.69), and 10th in ERA, per FanGraphs.

A Pennsylvania native, Brown was selected by the Red Sox in the eighth round of last July’s draft out of Old Dominion. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound southpaw received an at-slot $229,000 signing bonus and entered 2026 ranked by SoxProspects.com as Boston’s No. 60 prospect before making his pro debut on April 2. In addition to a lower-80s changeup, he features a lower-90s fastball that has reached 95 mph this year, an upper-80s cutter, and a lower-80s slider.

As noted by Cundall, Brown — who turns 22 in June — “has the size the Red Sox look for in a starting pitcher.” If he maintains this level of performance at Salem, he could emerge as a candidate for a promotion to High-A Greenville “in short order.” That timeline could accelerate further if pitchers ahead of him — such as fellow 2025 draftees Kyson Witherspoon, Marcus Phillips, and Anthony Eyanson — move up to Double-A Portland in the near future.

(Picture of Dylan Brown: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

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)

Red Sox promote pitching prospect Eduardo Rivera to Triple-A Worcester

UPDATE: The Red Sox will call up Rivera ahead of Wednesday’s game against the Yankees, according to multiple reports. He will be added to the 40-man roster and make his major league debut once he takes the mound without ever having pitched above Double-A.

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

Rivera is moving up to the minors’ highest level after making two starts for Portland to open his 2026 season. In those two outings, the 22-year-old left-hander posted a 0.90 ERA with 16 strikeouts to three walks over 10 innings in which opponents batted .167 against him.

Although the sample size is relatively small, it nonetheless illustrates how effective Rivera has been in the early going. Among 42 pitchers who have thrown at least 10 innings in the Eastern League this year, Rivera ranks first in FIP (1.67), second in ERA, strikeout rate (41%), and xFIP (2.35), third in strikeouts per nine innings (14.40) and swinging-strike rate (16.7%), eighth in WHIP (0.90), ninth in batting average against and groundball rate (52.6%), 12th in walks per nine innings (2.70), and 13th in walk rate (7.7%), per FanGraphs.

A former 2021 11th-round draft selection of the Athletics out of high school in Puerto Rico, Rivera joined the Red Sox organization as a minor league free agent shortly after being released by the A’s in May 2024. The San Juan native spent the remainder of that season in the lower levels (Florida Complex League and Low-A Salem) before splitting the 2025 campaign between High-A Greenville and Portland.

Rivera was slated to reach minor league free agency at season’s end but instead re-signed with the Red Sox in October. He then pitched for the Cangrejeros de Santurce in the Puerto Rican Winter League, helping them win their 17th title. That success allowed him to represent the island in the Caribbean Series for a second straight year, as well as in the World Baseball Classic.

Listed at an intimidating 6-foot-7 and 237 pounds, Rivera is currently ranked by MLB Pipeline as Boston’s No. 26 prospect. The hard-throwing southpaw throws from a three-quarters arm slot and operates with a five-pitch mix that consists of a 93-96 mph fastball that tops out at 98 mph, an 87-89 mph cutter, an 83-86 mph slider, an 85-89 mph changeup, and a 78-80 mph curveball.

Rivera, who turns 23 in June, is now just one call away from the big leagues. Though he is viewed as more of a reliever in the long run, he should provide some much-needed depth to a depleted starting rotation in Worcester. To that end, it appears as though he is tentatively scheduled to make his Triple-A debut for the WooSox by following fellow lefty Alec Gamboa out of the bullpen on Thursday afternoon against the Syracuse Mets at Polar Park.

Looking even further ahead, Rivera will be eligible for both minor league free agency and the Rule 5 Draft this winter if he is not added to Boston’s 40-man roster by the November protection deadline. That is something to keep in mind as he navigates Triple-A for the first time.

(Picture of Eduardo Rivera: Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images)

Red Sox’ John Holobetz named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week

Red Sox pitching prospect John Holobetz has been named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for the week of April 13-19, Minor League Baseball announced on Monday.

Holobetz was excellent in his last start for Double-A Portland this past Saturday. Going up against Altoona on the road at PNG Field, the 23-year-old right-hander allowed just one earned run on one hit and one walk to go along with a career-high 11 strikeouts over seven strong innings of work.

After retiring the first 13 batters he faced, Holobetz gave up a home run to Titus Dumitru with one out in the fifth to break a scoreless tie. He issued a two-out walk in the same frame, but escaped without allowing any further damage and put up two more zeroes in the sixth and seventh. Because of that solo shot, however, he was ultimately charged with the loss as the Sea Dogs fell to the Curve by a final score of 2-0.

Nonetheless, it was an impressive outing for Holobetz, who threw 74 pitches (54 strikes) and generated 14 whiffs, tied for the third-most at the Double-A level on Saturday. He is now 1-1 with a 1.13 ERA and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 23-to-5 through his first three starts (16 innings) of the 2026 season for Portland. Opponents are batting just .113 against him thus far.

Among 31 qualified Eastern League pitchers in the early going this year, Holobetz ranks second in ERA and strikeout rate (39.7%), third in batting average against, FIP (2.85), line-drive rate (10.3%), and WHIP, fourth in xFIP (3.20), fifth in strikeouts per nine innings (12.94), seventh in groundball rate (51.7%), 10th in swinging-strike rate (14.2%), 12th in walks per nine innings (2.81), and 15th in walk rate (8.6%), per FanGraphs.

A former fifth-round draft pick of the Brewers out of Old Dominion in 2024, Holobetz was acquired by the Red Sox last May as the player to be named later from the Quinn Priester trade a month prior. The Pennsylvania native spent three months at High-A Greenville before rounding out his first full professional season with Portland. He opened the 2026 campaign ranked as Boston’s No. 14 prospect by all three of Baseball America, MLB Pipeline, and SoxProspects.com.

Standing at 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, Holobetz features a four-pitch mix that consists of a 92-94 mph fastball that tops out at 96-97 mph, an 83-87 mph slider, a 79-82 mph curveball, and an 84-87 mph changeup. As noted in his MLB Pipeline scouting report, Holobetz “uses his athleticism to get down the mound very well, creating extension and a lower release height in addition to significant carry and armside run, making his heater difficult to barrel.”

Given his stellar start to the season, it would not be surprising if Holobetz — who turns 24 in July — emerges as a candidate for a promotion to Triple-A Worcester in the near future. He is not alone in that regard, as left-handers Hayden Mullins and Eduardo Rivera have also opened eyes in Portland this month by piling up strikeouts at an exceptional rate.

(Picture of John Holobetz: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox pitching prospect Juan Valera cracks Baseball America’s top 100 rankings

Coming off a dominant outing for High-A Greenville last week, Red Sox pitching prospect Juan Valera has entered Baseball America’s top 100 list for the very first time.

Valera was one of three new additions to Baseball America’s top 100 rankings on Monday, coming in at No. 100. The 19-year-old right-hander now joins fellow Red Sox prospects Payton Tolle (No. 11), Connelly Early (No. 33), Franklin Arias (No. 46), and Kyson Witherspoon (No. 66) on the esteemed list.

Valera’s inclusion in the top 100 should come as little surprise given his strong start to the season. As part of Greenville’s 2-0 shutout victory on the road against Hub City last Thursday, the hard-throwing righty scattered just two hits (both singles) and one walk while striking out a career-high of nine over five scoreless innings. He featured a fastball that topped out at 101.7 mph and threw 56 pitches (39 strikes) in total, generating 15 whiffs.

Through his first two starts of the year for Greenville, Valera has allowed two earned runs on four hits (one home run), three walks, and 16 strikeouts over 8 1/3 innings. That is a 2.16 ERA. Among 28 qualified pitchers in the South Atlantic League entering play Tuesday, Valera ranked first in strikeouts per nine innings (17.28), second in strikeout rate (52%), third in swinging-strike rate (21.2%), fourth in xFIP (1.57), and seventh in batting average against (.143) and FIP (0.32), per FanGraphs.

A native of the Dominican Republic, Valera originally signed with the Red Sox for $45,000 as an international free agent in April 2023. Following a so-so professional debut in the 2023 Dominican Summer League, he burst onto the scene in 2024 by earning All-Star honors in the Florida Complex League and reaching Low-A Salem. He was rewarded with an aggressive season-opening assignment to Greenville last spring but was limited to just 10 starts (38 innings) due to elbow soreness in 2025.

Now healthy, Valera is evidently getting back on track in 2026. In addition to an upper-90s fastball that regularly reaches triple digits, the 6-foot-3, 205-pound hurler mixes in an 88-92 mph slider, an 86-88 mph sweeper, and a 91-94 mph changeup.

“He’s a monster physically,” Red Sox assistant general manager Eddie Romero said of Valera when speaking with MassLive.com’s Christopher Smith. “He’s done a lot of work on his secondary pitches, but when you’re sitting 96 in your sides, that’s encouraging. And he can run it up.”

If Valera, who turns 20 next month, continues to build on this encouraging start to his season, it would not be surprising to see him climb Baseball America’s top 100 list and receive a promotion to Double-A Portland before long.

(Picture of Juan Valera: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox’ Devin Futrell named Carolina League Pitcher of the Week

Red Sox pitching prospect Devin Futrell has been named the Carolina League Pitcher of the Week for the week of April 6-12, Minor League Baseball announced on Monday.

Futrell was nearly perfect in his first start (second appearance) of the young season in Low-A Salem’s series finale against Wilson on Sunday. The 23-year-old left-hander allowed just one walk and struck out four over five scoreless, no-hit innings.

After issuing a leadoff walk to begin his afternoon, Futrell retired the final 15 batters he faced and needed all of 52 pitches (33 strikes) to get through five efficient frames. He generated eight whiffs and improved to 2-0 as the RidgeYaks routed the Warbirds, 16-3, at Salem’s Carilion Clinic Field.

Through his first two outings of the season for Salem, Futrell has yielded just one hit and two walks while striking out 10 of the 30 batters he has faced over nine innings of work. Among 31 qualified pitchers in the Carolina League, Futrell leads in both batting average against (.036) and WHIP (0.33). He also ranks ninth in swinging-strike rate (16.5%) and 10th in FIP (2.30), per FanGraphs.

A former 10th-round draft pick (297th overall) out of Vanderbilt who signed for an over-slot $250,000 in 2024, Futrell is not currently ranked among Boston’s top pitching prospects. The Florida native spent most of his first full professional season with Salem before receiving a promotion last August to High-A Greenville, where he posted a 1.09 ERA over five starts spanning 24 2/3 innings.

Despite the strong results there, Futrell did not break camp with Greenville this spring after being knocked down the pitching depth chart by 2025 draftees Kyson Witherspoon, Marcus Phillips, and Anthony Eyanson. Instead, he has returned to Salem and has evidently not skipped a beat. In fact, it is fair to wonder if he is even being challenged at the level he is at right now.

Listed at 6-foot-5 and 218 pounds, Futrell operates with a four-pitch mix that includes an upper-80s fastball that has reached the lower-90s, a 76-78 mph changeup, a 74-77 mph curveball, and a 79-83 mph changeup. As noted in his SoxProspects.com scouting report, the lefty lacks velocity but makes up for it with pitchability.

Futrell, who turns 24 in September, is undoubtedly gunning for a tougher assignment in the form of a return to Greenville. If one of Witherspoon, Phillips, or Eyanson — or perhaps even hard-throwing righty Juan Valera — were to move up to Double-A Portland in the coming weeks, Futrell would be an obvious candidate to take their place in the Drive’s starting rotation.

UPDATE: Futrell has indeed been promoted to Greenville, as was first reported by SoxProspects.com’s Andrew Parker.

(Picture of Devin Futrell courtesy of the Salem RidgeYaks)