Red Sox pitching prospect Steven Brooks led the organization in saves this season, converting eight of his 11 opportunities. This article will examine how the 24-year-old right-hander fared across two levels in 2026.
Brooks was Boston’s 11th-round pick in the 2024 draft out of Cal Poly. The California native received an above-slot $200,000 signing bonus, but did not make his professional debut until April 2025. He made 16 starts for Low-A Salem, posting a 5.29 ERA over 63 innings before being shut down last August and landing on the 60-day injured list for the remainder of the season.
After getting through the offseason without suffering any setbacks, Brooks broke camp with High-A Greenville this spring as a reliever rather than a starter. In 29 relief appearances for the Drive, the righty posted a 4.27 ERA with 71 strikeouts to 26 walks over 46 1/3 innings. He converted six of his eight save opportunities before being promoted to Double-A Portland in early August.
Making his first stop in the upper minors, Brooks appeared in 10 games (two starts) for Portland down the stretch, compiling a 3.50 ERA with 22 strikeouts to 11 walks over 18 innings. He proved particularly effective in September, striking out nine and walking only one across 5 1/3 scoreless, one-hit frames. In all, he converted two of his three save opportunities with the Sea Dogs, bringing his season total to eight.
Overall, Brooks forged a 4.06 ERA with 93 strikeouts to 37 walks in 39 outings (two starts) and 64 1/3 innings between Greenville and Portland. Opposing hitters batted .243/.354/.374 against him over 292 plate appearances. That included a .264/.349/.455 line from the left side of the plate and a .226/.358/.308 mark from the right side.
Among the 36 Red Sox minor leaguers who logged at least 60 innings this season, Brooks ranked second in strikeouts per nine innings (13.01), fifth in strikeout rate (31.8%), ninth in ERA, 11th in swinging-strike rate (13.6%), 12th in groundball rate (47.4%), 13th in FIP (4.19) and xFIP (4.19), and 15th in batting average against. However, he also ranked 24th in walks per nine innings (5.18) and walk rate (12.7%), according to FanGraphs.
Brooks, who turned 24 in September, is not currently ranked among Boston’s top prospects by publications such as Baseball America, MLB Pipeline, or SoxProspects.com. However, one former Red Sox prospect and major leaguer recently offered an intriguing perspective on Brooks’ outlook.
Anthony Ranaudo, now a contributor to FanSided’s MLB coverage, identified six Red Sox minor leaguers “who could contribute to the 2027 team” in an article for BoSox Injection last month. Regarding Brooks, Ranaudo highlighted how his strikeout rate increased from 22.4% in 2025 to 31.8% in 2026, noting that “leaps like that are how bullpen arms suddenly appear.”
Like Ranaudo, Brooks is on the larger side, listed at 6-foot-6 and 205 pounds. According to his SoxProspects.com scouting report, Brooks’ repertoire consists of a 90-94 mph fastball, an 86-89 mph cutter, a 76-79 mph curveball, and an 84-86 mph changeup.
Barring a trade or other move this winter, SoxProspects.com projects that Brooks will return to Portland’s bullpen to begin the 2027 season. As Ranaudo noted, though, Brooks could put himself in position for a promotion to Triple-A Worcester and beyond if he continues to generate strikeouts at a high rate while demonstrating improved command.
(Picture of Steven Brooks: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)
