Though they will never get to see Jordan Montgomery, Boston Red Sox supporters can still be happy with the team’s pitching staff.
Even without elite assistance, Boston performed admirably in spring training, as their staff recorded the second-lowest ERA of any team in the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues. Though they don’t have a strong starting rotation, the Red Sox have depth.
To truly appreciate the depth of potential in the system, Red Sox supporters will need to wait a little while longer. This winter, Boston made moves to increase the number of pitchers in their farm system, and the Sox are already benefiting from new chief baseball officer Craig Breslow’s aptitude for pitching.
Despite having one of MLB’s best prospect pools, the Red Sox had a dearth of pitchers prior to Breslow’s hiring. For the past few seasons, starting pitching has been Boston’s most pressing need, but things could soon change. The Red Sox possess pitching talent that is almost MLB-ready, and they will soon make Boston’s Montgomery struggles obsolete in the eyes of its supporters.
Potential Red Sox pitchers that will erase Boston’s memory of Jordan Montgomery
Fitts Richard
Richard Fitts was already visible to Red Sox supporters on March 26 during the team’s second exhibition game against the Texas Rangers, the defending World Series champions. As part of the trade for Alex Verdugo this winter, he was shipped from the Yankees to Boston, where he is now ranked No. 12 on the Red Sox’s top prospect list.
Fitts had fantastic numbers in his 3.1 innings against the Rangers, recording three strikeouts, one walk, and two hits. He also played for the Double-A affiliate of the Yankees the previous season. In 152.2 innings pitched, he recorded a 3.48 ERA, 163 strikeouts, and just 43 walks. Fitts had his best effort of the season on September 15, 2018, recording 11 strikeouts while playing for the Somerset Patriots.
Red Sox fans may get an opportunity to witness Fitts’ major – debut in the latter half of the upcoming season, as he is anticipated to arrive in the major leagues in 2024 after beginning the season at Worcester.
Justin Slaten
Right-hander Justin Slaten, 26, was traded by the Red Sox to the Mets, and throughout spring training, he made an impression on everyone. Slaten was selected by the Mets as a Rule-5 choice, and his status persisted in the Red Sox organization. Nevertheless, he made it simple for the team to add him to the Opening Day roster, avoiding the risk of losing him.
Slaten pitched 6.1 innings in the Grapefruit League and gave up no earned runs. In the spring, he gave up two hits, one walk, and six strikeouts. Even more remarkable are his minor league stats from 2023: in 59.2 innings pitched, the right-hander earned a 2.87 ERA, 86 strikeouts, and 20 walks.
Many within the Red Sox organization, notably manager Alex Cora and fellow Rule-5 pitcher Garrett Whitlock, have praised Slaten’s work. Cora said that Slaten has good movement and velocity while highlighting the significance of his size in a Sox bullpen that lacked commanding presences during the previous campaign.
Wikelman Gonzalez
Wikelman Gonzalez is ranked as Boston’s seventh overall prospect and is one of the team’s few homegrown pitchers. One of Breslow’s top goals as CBO is to improve internal pitching, and Gonzalez would be an excellent choice to demonstrate the program’s advancement.
The Venezuelan native joined the Red Sox in 2018 as an international free agent, and he has become better every year since joining the team. Gonzalez had a stellar season for the Sea Dogs in 2023, going 10-for-10 with a 2.42 ERA. During his tenure in Salem last season, the right-hander struck out a remarkable 168 batters in 111.1 innings pitched for both teams.
Gonzalez’s smaller build gives him the best chance of becoming a bullpen arm, according to SoxProspects.com, although he might end up as a middle-of-the-rotation starter. Gonzalez is predicted to make his Major League Baseball debut the following season and is thought to be further along in his development than Brayan Bello was at his age.
Boston supporters will be eager to see the Red Sox in the major leagues until their young pitchers are ready to play, and they will be hoping that the team’s improved defense and batting will be enough to get them to the postseason.