The Red Sox have selected Western Kentucky right-hander CJ Weins with their sixth-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft at No. 178 overall.
Weins, who turns 23 next month, spent the first two seasons of his collegiate career at Wabash Valley Community College before transferring and spending two more seasons at the University of South Carolina.
After entering the transfer portal last May, Weins ultimately ended up at Western Kentucky as a graduate student. In 27 appearances for the Hilltoppers this past season, the 22-year-old righty posted a 4.25 ERA and 0.84 WHIP with 42 strikeouts to eight walks over 31 innings of relief in which he held opposing hitters to a .170 batting average against.
Standing at 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, Weins throws from a low slot and operates with a three-pitch mix that consists of a low-90s fastball as well as a curveball and a slider, per SoxProspects.com’s Ian Cundall. The Chicago-area native also has experience closing out eight games, as he racked up eight saves for Western Kentucky this spring.
Weins is the third pitcher Boston has taken in the draft alongside fourth-rounder Matt Duffy (Canisius) and fifth-rounder Connelly Early (Virginia). Given that he has no eligibility remaining, the Red Sox will likely be able to sign Weins to a below-slot bonus and and some money for other picks.
On that note, the 178th overall pick in this year’s draft comes with a slot value of $320,200.
(PIcture of CJ Weins: Western Kentucky University Athletics)
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