How Red Sox pitching prospect Steven Brooks, organization’s saves leader, fared in 2026

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)

Red Sox prospect Antonio Anderson named 2026 AFL Fall Star

Red Sox infield prospect Antonio Anderson has been named a 2026 Arizona Fall League Fall Star, the league announced Wednesday.

Anderson will represent the Mesa Solar Sox as a member of the American League in the 20th annual Fall Stars Game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Sunday night. He was already selected to participate in Saturday night’s AFL Home Run Derby.

Of the eight Red Sox minor leaguers participating in the 2026 Arizona Fall League, Anderson was the only one selected to the American League’s Fall Stars roster. The switch-hitting 21-year-old has put together a productive AFL campaign thus far, slashing .361/.500/.623 with five doubles, one triple, three home runs, 20 RBIs, 17 runs scored, 17 walks, and 20 strikeouts through 16 games (78 plate appearances) for Mesa.

Among 75 qualified AFL hitters entering play Wednesday, Anderson notably ranks third in OPS (1.123), fourth in on-base percentage, fifth in batting average, eighth in slugging percentage, ninth in walk rate (21.8%), and 14th in isolated power (.262), according to MLB.com’s leaderboards.

Defensively, Anderson has primarily played first base this fall. The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder has made a team-leading eight starts at the position for Mesa, recording no errors in 70 chances. He has also made two starts at third base, where he has committed one error in five chances, and six starts at DH.

Originally selected by the Red Sox in the third round (83rd overall) of the 2023 draft out of North Atlanta High School, Anderson forwent his commitment to Georgia Tech by signing for an over-slot $1.5 million bonus. He struggled at times during each of his first two full professional seasons before taking a significant step forward and breaking out with High-A Greenville in 2026.

In 85 games for the Drive, Anderson batted .273/.373/.453 with 17 doubles, four triples, nine home runs (a career high), 46 RBIs, 53 runs scored, two stolen bases, 43 walks, and 78 strikeouts over 339 plate appearances. He posted a .333/.444/.567 line against lefties and a .258/.353/.424 line against righties en route to earning South Atlantic League Player of the Week honors on two separate occasions.

Anderson, who will not turn 22 until next June, is not ranked among Boston’s top 60 prospects by SoxProspects.com. Barring a trade or other move this winter, the site currently projects him to return to Greenville to begin the 2027 season, though a jump to Double-A Portland could be possible.

In the more immediate future, this Sunday’s Fall Stars Game will begin at 8 p.m. ET (6 p.m. local time). The showcase will be broadcast live on MLB Network and streamed on MLB.com.

(Picture of Antonio Anderson: Brandon Sloter/Getty Images)

Red Sox re-sign pitching prospect Yordanny Monegro to minor league contract

The Red Sox have re-signed pitching prospect Yordanny Monegro to a minor league contract covering the 2027 season, a team source confirmed to BloggingtheRedSox.com. It is unclear whether the deal includes an invitation to major league spring training.

Monegro is currently regarded as Boston’s No. 25 prospect by Baseball America, ranking 10th among pitchers in the system. The right-hander, who turned 24 last month, was slated to become a minor league free agent this week. He will instead remain a member of the Red Sox organization, at least for the time being.

A native of the Dominican Republic, Monegro originally signed with the Red Sox for $35,000 as an international free agent in February 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he did not make his professional debut until 2021. He spent parts of three seasons in rookie ball before taking a step forward in 2023, advancing from the Florida Complex League to Low-A Salem and eventually High-A Greenville. The start of his 2024 season was delayed by shoulder weakness, but he still showed enough to earn a promotion to Double-A Portland to begin 2025.

Monegro came out of the gates firing, posting a 2.67 ERA with 49 strikeouts to eight walks in his first nine outings (eight starts) and 33 2/3 innings for the Sea Dogs before tearing the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow last June. He underwent Tommy John surgery shortly thereafter and faced a lengthy road back, ultimately returning to the mound in late August.

In three abbreviated starts between Greenville and Portland to close out the 2026 minor league season, Monegro showed signs of rust, allowing three earned runs on five hits, six walks, and eight strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings. The 6-foot-4, 180-pound righty sat between 93-95 mph and topped out at 96 mph with his fastball in his final outing on September 11. He also featured an 86-88 mph slider and a 78-80 mph curveball, according to Baseball America’s Ian Cundall.

Even after re-signing him to a minor league deal, the Red Sox could still be at risk of losing Monegro in December’s Rule 5 Draft if they do not protect him by adding him to the 40-man roster later this month. Whether the Rule 5 Draft takes place as scheduled remains to be seen, however, given the impending lockout.

Regardless, Monegro becomes the fourth pitcher to return to the Red Sox on a minor league contract so far this offseason, joining fellow righties Angel Bastardo and Patrick Halligan and lefty Michael Sansone.

Like Halligan (Escogido), Monegro (Licey) has also been pitching in the Dominican Winter League.

(Picture of Yordanny Monegro: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Who did Red Sox acquire from Cardinals for Eduardo Rivera?

The Red Sox swung a trade with the Cardinals on Tuesday afternoon, acquiring 18-year-old right-hander Juan Garcia in exchange for left-hander Eduardo Rivera.

The deal marks Boston’s third trade of the offseason, following moves last week that sent Nate Eaton to the Athletics in exchange for minor leaguer Jareth Rayo and Tsung-Che Cheng to the Tigers in exchange for cash considerations.

It also represents the third trade between Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and his predecessor, current Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom, in the past year. The two previously connected on separate deals that brought Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras from St. Louis to Boston last winter.

Rivera, who was designated for assignment by the Red Sox as part of Monday night’s 40-man roster crunch, heads to his third organization. Garcia, meanwhile, is changing organizations for the first time in his professional career after originally signing with the Cardinals as an international free agent in January 2025.

A native of Mexico, Garcia spent each of the past two seasons in the Dominican Summer League. The 6-foot-2, 187-pound righty made 11 starts for the DSL Cardinals in 2026, compiling a 4.40 ERA with 39 strikeouts to 10 walks over 43 innings in which opponents batted .257 against him. Overall, he owns a 3.87 ERA with 77 strikeouts to 14 walks in 23 outings (21 starts) and 90 2/3 innings as a pro.

Garcia, who will not turn 19 until next May, was not ranked among the Cardinals’ top 30 prospects by Baseball America. According to Baseball America’s Ian Cundall, the young hurler topped out at 92 mph with his low-90s fastball this season. He also featured a changeup, slider, and curveball.

As is the case with Rayo, Garcia should be a candidate to make his stateside debut in the rookie-level Florida Complex League next season, assuming the Red Sox do not move him in another deal before then.

(Picture of Eduardo Rivera: Winslow Townson/Getty Images)

Red Sox re-sign righty Patrick Halligan to minor league contract

The Red Sox have re-signed right-hander Patrick Halligan to a minor league contract covering the 2027 season, as first reported by The Worcester Telegram & Gazette’s Tommy Cassell.

Halligan, who turned 27 earlier this month, remains with the club he joined last winter. The former 13th-round draft pick out of Pensacola State College in 2021 signed with the Red Sox as a minor league free agent in January after spending time in the Royals, Braves, and Astros organizations.

Halligan spent most of this past season with Double-A Portland, where he earned Eastern League Pitcher of the Week honors in May and posted a 4.29 ERA with 78 strikeouts to 24 walks over 29 outings (two starts) spanning 56 2/3 innings. He also made 10 appearances for Triple-A Worcester, pitching to a 5.66 ERA with 24 strikeouts to six walks across 20 2/3 innings of relief.

Altogether, Halligan forged a 4.66 ERA with a career-high 102 strikeouts to 30 walks in 39 outings (two starts) and 77 1/3 innings between Portland and Worcester. Opposing hitters slashed .231/.309/.366 against him over 331 plate appearances. That includes a .237/.307/.347 line from the right side of the plate and a .221/.312/.393 line from the left side.

Halligan was one of 15 Red Sox minor leaguers to log at least 75 innings this season. Among those 15 pitchers, he ranked third in batting average against, fourth in FIP (3.93), strikeouts per nine innings (11.87), and strikeout rate (30.8%), fifth in WHIP (1.27), sixth in swinging-strike rate (13%) and xFIP (3.95), and seventh in walks per nine innings (3.49), according to FanGraphs.

Listed at an imposing 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds, Halligan featured a four-pitch mix in his time with Worcester this season. The Virginia-born hurler topped out at 94.9 mph with his fastball that averaged 93.3 mph. His splitter, considered his best secondary offering, sat between 76-82 mph. He also incorporated a mid-80s slider and an upper-70s curveball to round things out.

Halligan, who is currently playing winter ball for the Leones del Escogido in the Dominican Republic, is not ranked among Boston’s top 60 prospects by SoxProspects.com. Barring a trade or other move this winter, the site projects that he will return to Worcester’s bullpen to begin the 2027 season.

In addition to Halligan and fellow righty Angel Bastardo, the Red Sox have also re-signed left-hander Michael Sansone to a minor league contract. The soon-to-be 27-year-old Connecticut native logged the second-most innings (111 1/3) among southpaws in the organization this past season, trailing only Devin Futrell.

(Picture of Patrick Halligan: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox re-sign pitching prospect Angel Bastardo to minor league contract

The Red Sox have re-signed pitching prospect Angel Bastardo to a minor league contract covering the 2027 season, as first reported by BeisbolFR’s Francys Romero. The deal includes an invitation to major league spring training.

Bastardo is currently regarded as Boston’s No. 15 prospect by Baseball America, ranking fifth among pitchers in the system. The 24-year-old right-hander was slated to reach minor league free agency in the coming days, but will remain with the organization he has spent the better part of his professional career with, at least for the time being.

Originally signed by the Red Sox for $35,000 as an international free agent out of Venezuela in July 2018, Bastardo steadily climbed the organizational ladder as a starter and reached Double-A Portland before undergoing Tommy John surgery in June 2024. He missed the remainder of the season and was then left off Boston’s 40-man roster, prompting the Blue Jays to select him with the sixth overall pick in that winter’s Rule 5 Draft.

Bastardo did not pitch in 2025 while continuing to work his way back from surgery. The hard-throwing righty returned to the mound this spring but did not make Toronto’s Opening Day roster out of camp and was instead designated for assignment in late March. After clearing waivers, he was returned to Boston on April 1 without needing to occupy a spot on the club’s 40-man roster. He then spent a few weeks on the development list before joining Triple-A Worcester on April 21.

In 40 relief appearances for the WooSox this season, Bastardo posted a 4.64 ERA with 73 strikeouts to 33 walks over 54 1/3 innings. Opponents batted .212/.326/.378 against him across 231 plate appearances. That includes a .227/.338/.429 line from right-handed hitters and a .189/.307/.297 line from left-handed hitters.

Among 173 International League pitchers who logged at least 50 innings in 2026, Bastardo ranked sixth in strikeout rate (31.6%), ninth in strikeouts per nine innings (12.09) and swinging-strike rate (14.9%), 19th in xFIP (3.98), 25th in batting average against, 51st in FIP (4.35), 65th in WHIP (1.36) and 82nd in ERA. However, he also ranked 156th in walks per nine innings (5.47), 159th in walk rate (14.3%), and 173rd in line-drive rate (31.7%), according to FanGraphs.

Listed at 6-foot-1 and 175 pounds, Bastardo throws from a three-quarters arm slot and operates with a four-pitch mix. This season, he averaged 96.2 mph and topped out at 99.1 mph with his four-seam fastball. His changeup, long regarded as his best secondary offering, typically sat between 87-91 mph. He also featured an upper-80s slider and an occasional curveball to round things out.

Even after re-signing him to a minor league deal, the Red Sox could once again risk losing Bastardo in this winter’s Rule 5 Draft if they do not protect him by adding him to the 40-man roster in November. Whether the Rule 5 Draft takes place as scheduled remains to be seen, however, given the impending lockout.

The Red Sox could also face similar roster decisions with other prospects nearing minor league free agency, including outfielder Allan Castro and righty Yordanny Monegro, both of whom are currently playing winter ball in their native Dominican Republic.

(Picture of Angel Bastardo: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Who did Red Sox acquire from Athletics for Nate Eaton?

The Red Sox swung a trade with the Athletics on Thursday afternoon, acquiring 18-year-old right-hander Jareth Rayo for outfielder Nate Eaton.

The deal represents the first trade of the offseason, less than 24 hours after the World Series concluded Wednesday night. It also marks the first transaction between Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and Taylor Smith, who spent the past two seasons as an assistant general manager in Boston before taking over as the Athletics’ president of baseball operations last week.

By trading Eaton, who turns 30 in December and will be out of minor league options next year, the Red Sox clear a spot on their 40-man roster and bring in a developmental lottery ticket from the Athletics in Rayo.

A native of Nicaragua, Rayo signed with the A’s for $70,000 as an international free agent last October and made his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League this season. In 11 outings (nine starts) for the DSL Athletics, the 6-foot-3, 195-pound righty posted a 5.50 ERA (5.94 FIP) with 36 strikeouts to 20 walks over 36 innings. Opposing hitters batted .243 against him.

Rayo, who turns 19 in November, was not ranked among the Athletics’ top 30 prospects by Baseball America. According to Baseball America’s Ian Cundall, the young hurler topped out at 94.6 mph with his low-90s fastball this season. He also featured a changeup and slider to round out his three-pitch mix.

Assuming the Red Sox do not move him in another deal this winter, Rayo is a candidate to make his stateside debut in the rookie-level Florida Complex League in 2027.

(Picture of Nate Eaton: Natalie Reid/Getty Images)

How Red Sox OF prospect Will Turner fared in 2026

No Red Sox minor leaguer drew more walks in 2026 than Will Turner. Here is a closer look at the interesting season the 24-year-old outfielder put together.

Turner spent the entire 2026 campaign with Double-A Portland, his first at the level. The left-handed hitter batted .202/.395/.405 with five doubles, one triple, nine home runs, 21 RBIs, 40 runs scored, 13 stolen bases, 50 walks, and 49 strikeouts through his first 55 games (225 plate appearances) before landing on the injured list in late June.

Upon returning to action in early July, Turner slashed .183/.339/.431 with nine doubles, one triple, nine home runs, 20 RBIs, 28 runs scored, five stolen bases, 34 walks, and 54 strikeouts over 44 games (189 plate appearances) to close out the season. He homered four times in his final five games, ending things on a high note.

Overall, Turner hit .193/.369/.417 with 14 doubles, two triples, 18 home runs, 41 RBIs, 68 runs scored, 18 stolen bases, 84 walks, and 103 strikeouts over 99 games and a team-high 414 plate appearances for the Sea Dogs in 2026. He posted a .205/.381/.445 line in 330 plate appearances against right-handed pitching and a .149/.321/.313 line in 84 plate appearances against left-handed pitching.

Among 35 Eastern League hitters who logged at least 400 plate appearances this season, Turner ranked first in walk rate (20.3%), second in swinging-strike rate (7.7%), third in isolated power, sixth in on-base percentage, seventh in wOBA (.358), eighth in wRC+ (112), 12th in OPS (.786), 14th in slugging percentage, and 15th in speed score (6.1). However, he also ranked 26th in strikeout rate (24.9%) and 35th in batting average and BABIP (.219), per FanGraphs.

Defensively, Turner made a habit of flashing the leather in the outfield for Portland. His most memorable moment of the season came on August 22, when he robbed Reading’s Raider Tello of a home run to lead off the third inning by climbing the left-center field fence and making an acrobatic catch at Hadlock Field.

“I got a really good jump on it, and I knew that I was gonna have a chance at it,” Turner told MLB.com’s Tim Crowley. “As I was kind of going towards the wall, I was like, ‘OK, this is gonna carry a little bit, but it’s not gonna go out by that much.’ I kind of took my eye off of the ball and looked at the wall just to make sure that my foot was in the right spot. I turned back, and the ball’s right where I thought it was gonna be, and just brought it down.”

Over the course of the season, Turner saw action at all three outfield spots for the Sea Dogs. The athletic 5-foot-11, 200-pounder made 49 starts in center field, 24 starts in left field, and 18 starts in right field, recording three assists and committing just one error in 200 chances altogether. He also made four starts at DH.

“I’m just so blessed to play, and players make a lot of good plays on a daily basis in the minors and in The Show,” Turner said. “I really take pride in my defense, and it’s always been a big thing for me. I really like taking hits away and doing whatever I can to make sure that happens. I always think robbing home runs is really cool.”

A South Alabama product, Turner saw his draft stock fall during his junior season before the Red Sox selected him in the seventh round (207th overall) of the 2024 draft. He received a below-slot $250,000 signing bonus and made his professional debut with High-A Greenville that August. A broken right hamate bone that required surgery limited him to 52 games between the FCL and Greenville in 2025.

Turner, who turned 24 in September, is not currently ranked among Boston’s top 60 prospects by SoxProspects.com. While the outlet takes note of his solid approach at the plate and athleticism in the outfield, it also describes him as having a “wide range of outcomes” due in part to questions regarding the development of his high-variance hit tool.

Barring a trade or other move this winter, SoxProspects.com projects that Turner will return to Portland to begin the 2027 season. That said, he could push his way to Triple-A Worcester at some point if he makes additional progress at the plate.

(Picture of Will Turner: Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

How Red Sox pitching prospect Devin Futrell fared across three levels in 2026

Only Gage Ziehl and John Holobetz threw more innings than Devin Futrell among Red Sox minor leaguers in 2026. This article will examine how the 24-year-old left-hander fared in his second full professional season.

In part because of the influx of pitching prospects (Kyson Witherspoon, Marcus Phillips, and Anthony Eyanson) selected by Boston in the 2025 draft, Futrell returned to Low-A Salem out of camp this spring despite reaching High-A Greenville last summer. He quickly showed that he had little left to prove at that level, tossing nine scoreless, one-hit innings over two appearances (one start) for the RidgeYaks before rejoining the Drive in mid-April.

“I mostly contribute being locked in so early in the season to my competitiveness,” Futrell told SoxProspects.com’s Andrew Parker in May. “I don’t want to go out there and get shelled. I just want to go out there and make the hitters look bad. Making yourself look better is what’s going to get you to the next level. I just go day in and day out and just try to show the hitters that I am better than them.”

Futrell’s return to Greenville lasted nearly four months. The lefty posted a 4.22 ERA with 85 strikeouts to 14 walks across 15 outings (12 starts) and 74 2/3 innings for the Drive before being promoted to Double-A Portland in early August. In his first taste of the upper minors, he pitched to a 4.55 ERA with 35 strikeouts to just three walks in six starts (31 2/3 innings) for the Sea Dogs down the stretch.

Overall, Futrell forged a 3.98 ERA with 130 strikeouts to 19 walks over 23 outings (19 starts) and 115 1/3 innings between Salem, Greenville, and Portland this season, nearly doubling his inning total from the year prior. Opponents batted .251/.284/.434 against him across 470 plate appearances. That includes a .259/.289/.492 line from right-handed hitters and a .232/.272/.310 line from left-handed hitters.

Among the 50 Red Sox minor leaguers who, regardless of level, logged at least 50 innings in 2026, Futrell ranked second in walks per nine innings (1.48) and walk rate (4%), fifth in WHIP (1.14), ninth in xFIP (3.92), 11th in FIP (3.94), 13th in ERA, and 19th in strikeout rate (27.7%), according to FanGraphs.

Futrell was originally selected by the Red Sox in the 10th round (297th overall) of the 2024 draft out of Vanderbilt. The Florida native received an above-slot $250,000 signing bonus but did not make his professional debut last April. He is currently regarded by SoxProspects.com as Boston’s No. 44 prospect, ranking 18th among pitchers in the organization.

Listed at 6-foot-5 and 218 pounds, Futrell is not known as a flamethrower. This season, the southpaw’s fastball topped out at 91.6 mph and typically sat in the high 80s. He also implemented new secondary offerings into his arsenal, including a cutter, splitter, and sweeper, to keep hitters off balance.

“My lowest-hanging fruit is my velocity,” Futrell noted to Parker. “I know it is a big part of today’s game. But there are still guys out there who get outs, and I am one of those guys. As long as I am working on that and keep pushing up the floor throughout all my pitches, I will get to where I need to be.

“Just recently I decided to switch up my sweeper a little bit,” he continued. “I was chasing the horizontal before, and now I am trying to actually get lift to my sweeper. It is something you don’t usually see with that pitch. Most of them hang around the zero line. I am trying to get mine to like five or ten vert. I want it to ride a bit to hitters. It looks like a slow cutter out of my hand.”

Barring a trade or other move this winter, SoxProspects.com projects that Futrell — who turned 24 in September — will return to Portland’s starting rotation to begin the 2027 season. He will continue to be tested without premium velocity, but his exceptional control gives him intriguing upside.

(Picture of Devin Futrell: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

How Red Sox speedster Braiden Ward fared in 2026

After coming over from the Rockies in an offseason trade, Braiden Ward stole more bases than any other Red Sox minor leaguer in 2026. This article will examine how the 27-year-old speedster fared during the season as a whole.

A former 16th-round draft pick out of Washington in 2021, Ward was acquired from Colorado for left-hander Brennan Bernardino last November. The California native wasted little time in making a positive impression with his new organization.

In his first spring training with Boston, Ward — a non-roster invitee — benefited from the absence of several other outfielders (Wilyer Abreu, Roman Anthony, Jarren Duran, Nate Eaton, and Ceddanne Rafaela) who were away competing in the World Baseball Classic. He made the most of the opportunity, stealing 19 bases in 22 attempts over 27 Grapefruit League games to establish a new spring training record.

Despite the standout spring, Ward did not break camp with the Red Sox in late March. Instead, he reported to Triple-A Worcester, where he would spend the entire minor league campaign. He went on to steal 61 bases in 70 attempts over 109 games for the WooSox, breaking the organization’s single-season Triple-A record while doing so.

Along with the 61 stolen bases, the most for any player at the Triple-A level in 2026, Ward had a solid season at the plate for Worcester. Known for his contact skills, the left-handed hitter batted .251/.364/.373 with 19 doubles, five triples, six home runs, 33 RBIs, 83 runs scored, 39 walks, and 82 strikeouts over a career-high 456 plate appearances. He slashed .239/.348/.365 in 374 plate appearances against righties and .308/.439/.415 in 82 plate appearances against lefties.

Among the 48 hitters who logged at least 450 plate appearances in the International League this year, Ward led in both speed score (9.2) and weighted stolen base runs (6.8). He also ranked 12th in strikeout rate (18%), 15th in on-base percentage, and 20th in swinging-strike rate (9.5%), according to FanGraphs.

Defensively, Ward saw action at all three outfield spots for the WooSox this season. The athletic 5-foot-9, 160-pounder (listed height and weight) made a team-leading 68 starts in center, 22 starts in left, and 15 starts in right. Between the three positions, he recorded five assists without committing an error in 234 total chances spanning 910 2/3 innings.

Following a strong September that included his first career five-hit game in Worcester’s penultimate contest of the season, Ward was summoned by the Red Sox ahead of their Wild Card Series against the Yankees in the Bronx. Although the club considered him for a postseason roster spot as a pinch-running specialist, he ultimately was left off the roster. Had he made the roster and appeared in a game, Ward would have become the first player in franchise history and the seventh in MLB history to make his big league debut during the postseason.

Although he missed out on a chance to make history, Ward’s first season in the Red Sox organization can still be viewed as a successful one. He is not currently ranked among the system’s top prospects, but his game-changing speed could attract some Rule 5 Draft interest this winter if he is not added to Boston’s 40-man roster.

Assuming he remains in the organization, SoxProspects.com projects that Ward — who turns 28 in January — will return to Worcester to begin the 2027 campaign. It would be his final season before he becomes eligible for minor league free agency.

(Picture of Braiden Ward: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)