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 top prospect Franklin Arias named Eastern League Player of the Month for April

Top Red Sox prospect Franklin Arias has been named the Eastern League Player of the Month for April, Minor League Baseball announced on Tuesday.

Arias put together a monster April with Double-A Portland to open his 2026 season. In 20 games for the Sea Dogs, the 20-year-old infielder went 27-for-72 (.375) at the plate with four doubles, eight home runs, 20 RBIs, 15 runs scored, two stolen bases, five walks, and nine strikeouts. He homered six times in a seven-game stretch from April 14-23, then added a pair of clutch long balls on April 25 and 30.

Among qualified Eastern League hitters in April, Arias finished first in OPS (1.196), strikeout rate (11.1%), and total bases (55). He also ranked second in batting average, isolated power (.389), and slugging percentage (.764), third in home runs, fourth in hits, fifth in RBIs, eighth in extra-base hits (12), and 10th in on-base percentage (.432), per MiLB.com’s leaderboards.

Overall, the right-handed hitting Arias is slashing .346/.426/.704 with five doubles, eight home runs, 20 RBIs, 16 runs scored, two stolen bases, eight walks, and 10 strikeouts through 23 games (94 plate appearances) for Portland this season. That includes a .308/.333/.654 line against lefties and a .364/.463/.727 line against righties.

In addition to displaying more power after bulking up over the winter, Arias is playing sound defense at shortstop for the Sea Dogs. The sure-handed 5-foot-11, 180-pounder has made 17 starts at short thus far and has committed just one error in 65 chances. He has also made four appearances at DH and come off the bench as a pinch-hitter twice.

A native of Venezuela, Arias originally signed with the Red Sox for $525,000 as an international free agent in January 2023. He made his professional debut in the 2023 Dominican Summer League and had a solid showing there. Still, he did not truly burst onto the scene until arriving stateside in 2024, when he took home Florida Complex League MVP, Top Prospect, and All-Star honors. He followed that up by advancing from Low-A Salem to High-A Greenville to Portland as a teenager in 2025.

Arias, who will not turn 21 until November, entered 2026 ranked by Baseball America as Boston’s No. 2 prospect (behind only left-hander Payton Tolle) and the No. 49 prospect in the sport. He has since moved up a whopping 33 spots to No. 16 on the outlet’s top 100, and it would be unsurprising to see him climb further given his eye-opening start to the season.

At the same time, speculation about a potential promotion to Triple-A Worcester has emerged for Arias, who previously stated that his goal for 2026 was to “make it to the big leagues.” A move to Triple-A would be a logical first step in that direction, though the Red Sox do not appear to be in a rush to make such a decision.

Arias was not the only Red Sox prospect to earn recognition on Tuesday, as right-hander Anthony Eyanson was named the South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Month for April. He has since joined Arias in Portland from Greenville and is in line to make his first Double-A start this Saturday.

(Picture of Franklin Arias: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

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)

Drew Ehrhard joins Red Sox as bullpen catcher

Red Sox minor leaguer Drew Ehrhard has retired from playing and joined the big league club as a bullpen catcher, as was first reported by Alex Speier of The Boston Globe.

Ehrhard, 27, has been in the Red Sox organization since signing as an undrafted free agent out of Division II Tampa (where he played six years) in July 2023. The Florida native is effectively replacing catching coordinator Parker Guinn, who has moved from his role as a bullpen catcher to the dugout, where he will assist with PitchCom and other tasks under interim manager Chad Tracy.

Before joining the Red Sox’ new-look coaching staff in the wake of Alex Cora’s stunning ouster over the weekend, Ehrhard had spent the first month of the 2026 season at Double-A Portland. In 11 games for the Sea Dogs, the right-handed hitter batted .132/.227/.316 with one double, two home runs, eight RBIs, five runs scored, one stolen base, four walks, and 10 strikeouts across 45 plate appearances. He made eight starts at first base and two at DH, adding two relief appearances on the mound as well.

In parts of four minor league seasons between the Florida Complex League, High-A Greenville, and Portland, Ehrhard slashed .233/.306/.376 with 15 doubles, two triples, nine home runs, 39 RBIs, 39 runs scored, five stolen bases, 28 walks, and 76 strikeouts over 104 career games (363 plate appearances). Defensively, the 5-foot-9, 185-pounder made 42 starts at first base and DH, along with two at second base. He also appeared in three games behind the plate, where he did not have an opportunity to throw out a base stealer, and nine on the mound, compiling a 3.60 ERA with one strikeout and no walks in 10 innings of relief.

With Portland last season, Ehrhard had the chance to play alongside his younger brother, Zach, before the latter was traded to the Dodgers in late July. The elder Ehrhard was also recognized as the Sea Dogs’ 2025 Charlie Eshbach Citizen of the Year for “displaying an even stronger testament to the impact that players can have on an organization both on and off the field.”

Ehrhard joins Charlie Madden as one of two bullpen catchers on the Red Sox’ coaching staff. Similar to Ehrhard, Madden — a former 24th-round draft pick out of Mercer in 2017 — played three seasons in the minor leagues before spending most of 2021 on Boston’s taxi squad. He was then brought on as a bullpen catcher following his release in March 2022.

(Picture of Drew Ehrhard: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

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)

What does Red Sox prospect Dorian Soto have in store for 2026?

Like other members of Major League Baseball’s 2025 international signing class, Red Sox infield prospect Dorian Soto is expected to make his stateside debut when the 2026 rookie-level Florida Complex Season begins on May 2.

Soto received the largest bonus ($.1.4 million) of any international free agent in Boston’s 2025 international signing class when he put pen to paper last January. The Dominican Republic native made his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League five months later and made a positive first impression.

As a 17-year-old, the switch-hitting Soto batted .307/.362/.428 with 10 doubles, two triples, two home runs, 18 RBIs, 27 runs scored, one stolen base, 16 walks, and 28 strikeouts in 47 games (186 plate appearances) between DSL Red Sox Red and Blue last summer. That includes a .311/.372/.432 slash line from the left side and a .294/.324/.412 slash line from the right side of the plate.

Defensively, Soto saw playing time at three different positions last year. The 6-foot-2 infielder logged 230 2/3 innings at shortstop, 42 2/3 innings at third base, and two innings at second base, committing nine errors in 133 chances. He also made seven starts at DH.

Though he was named a mid-season DSL All-Star, Soto was unable to play in the All-Star Game itself in July due to a wrist injury that kept him sidelined for a little more than a week. Nonetheless, it was an all-around productive showing for Soto, who Baseball America’s Josh Norris ranked in September as one of the top prospects from the 2025 Dominican Summer League.

Soto, who turned 18 in February, entered 2026 ranked by Baseball America as Boston’s No. 8 prospect. In his first spring training stateside, he impressed evaluators on the backfields in Fort Myers by impacting the baseball and demonstrating a sound approach at the plate.

“He had several batted balls with [exit velocities] well over 100 mph this spring, already shows solid bat speed, and does a good job incorporating his lower half in his swing,” Baseball America’s Ian Cundall wrote of Soto earlier this month. “There’s definite power in his future, though it might take some time for it to actualize in-game.

“Soto was prone to chasing in the Dominican Summer League last year, but he showed a distinct two-strike approach this spring,” added Cundall. “He widened his stance, abbreviated his leg kick, and shortened his swing, leading to more line drives up the middle.”

Elsewhere, it is worth noting that Soto has added significant muscle to his athletic frame since signing with the Red Sox as a 16-year-old in early 2025. He was listed at 180 pounds then, but is now up to approximately 207 pounds after working with the organization’s strength and conditioning team.

“He’s gotten really strong,” Red Sox assistant general manager Eddie Romero said of Soto in a recent conversation with MassLive.com’s Christopher Smith. “He’s still 18 years old and so really learning how to use his body. And I think that’s one of like the biggest parts. He’s done a good job of adding the weight. Now it’s having it kind of like transfer and keeping his agility and range over at shortstop.”

Given his physical projection, there is a chance that Soto eventually outgrows shortstop and shifts over to third base as he continues to fill out. He has the arm strength to handle such a move, as Baseball America grades that tool of his as a 55 (above-average) on the 20-80 scouting scale. His hands and footwork are also well-regarded.

“He’s got a long way to go developmentally,” Romero told Smith, “but we’re obviously excited about him.”

Now at extended spring training, it will be interesting to see if Soto’s stay in the Florida Complex League is short-lived. He could follow in the footsteps of fellow Dominican prospect Justin Gonzales, who played just one game in the FCL last season before being promoted to Low-A Salem and later reaching High-A Greenville.

(Picture of Dorian Soto: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

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)