First on the list is Australian born 20 year old right handed pitcher Adam Bates. He was signed following the 2023 season and spent 2024 pitching for the Florida Complex Red Sox to get acclimated to American style. He was 1-2 with a 3.96 ERA in 9 starts but didn't have a good 2025 in Salem. He was 3-4 with a 5.04 shuffling between starting and relieving. This year so far he's allowed 6 runs in 7 innings. He's got time to turn it around but if not, there's plenty of pitchers from last year's draft, the Dominican Sox and this coming draft that can take his place.
The last man standing from the Rafael Devers trade (not counting Caleb Durbin, Andruw Monasterio, Anthony Seigler and Henry Godbout by proxy) is 20 year old right handed pitcher Jose Bello. Bello was a Dominican teenager drafted by the San Francisco Giants that spent the rest of 2025 after the trade going 3-1 with a 3.11 ERA between the Complex and Salem. This year so far he's thrown 2 innings and hasn't allowed a run. He can hit 96 on the gun and seems to have gotten stronger in the last couple of seasons. Too bad he's pitching with the pressure of being traded for Rafael Devers.
There's a line from the comedy movie Tommy Boy where Chris Farley goes "You know some people go to college for seven years." 24 year old right handed pitcher Harry Blum fell one year short of that after spending 5 years at Luther College and one year at Augustana in South Dakota. Signed as a minor league free agent in February, Blum has allowed 3 runs in 6 innings with 7 strikeouts. He can hit 96 on the gun so let's see what he can do.
The Red Sox took 21 year old left handed pitcher out of Old Dominion in the 8th round last season and the word on him was his velocity already improved. He was throwing 93 in college and has hit 95 in the pros so far. He's 1-0 and hasn't allowed a run in 8 2/3 innings so far. So far so good for Brown, hope he can keep up the momentum. You can never have enough left handed pitching.
The Sox are looking forward to improvement out of 20 year old left handed pitcher Nicolas De La Cruz. Signed as a Dominican teenager before the 2023 season, Nicolas struggled last season going 2-3 with a 4.76 ERA between the Complex and Salem last year. This year he hasn't allowed a run in 2 2/3 innings so things are looking up. He's not a power pitcher, relying more on junk so let's see if he can keep up with some of the flamethrowers that are coming up.
Unfortunately we're not going to see 24 year old right handed pitcher Matt Duffy for a while. Taken in the 4th round back in 2023, Duffy broke out in 2024 going 4-5 with a 2.83 ERA in 22 starts for Salem. Just when it looked like he was headed to Greenville in 2025, he had Tommy John surgery in spring training. He should be back later in the summer but he won't be the same until next season. Shame too, he was Salem's best pitcher in 2024.
His name is Finley and he loves to fight! In all seriousness, 22 year old right handed pitcher Leighton Finley was last year's 6th round pick and hit 97 on the gun for the Georgia Bulldogs. He didn't have the best stats as a starter for Georgia but Sox general manager Craig Breslow wants to harness that power arm. So far he's allowed 2 earned runs in 8 2/3 innings and doing well. Let's see if he can progress this season and make it to Greenville.
Speaking of power arms, look no further than 22 year old right handed pitcher Christian Foutch. Drafted in the 5th round last year, Foutch hit 100 on the gun for Arkansas University out of the bullpen. The problem with Foutch is he can throw gas but doesn't know where its going. If the Sox development staff can teach him control, the sky is the limit for Foutch.
The Salem Yaks are looking at a youth movement and that includes 21 year old right handed pitcher Madinson Frias. Signed as a Dominican teenager before the 2024 season, he struggled going 1-7 with a 6.30 for the Florida Complex last year. This year so far he's allowed 8 runs in 5 innings, not good. Still, some of the Dominican kids take time to develop and hopefully Frias can too. If not, there will be plenty of guys coming up that can take his place.
One of the youngsters of the team is 19 year old right handed pitcher Gilbel Galvan. Galvan allowed 13 runs in 16 innings last year for the Florida Complex and this year he's 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA. He's only 19 years old so he's got a long way to go. He can hit 96 on the gun and throws a decent slider when it gets over.
When the Red Sox traded Alex Verdugo to the Yankees for Greg Weissert and Richard Fitts, they also got 24 year old right handed pitcher Nicholas Judice as well. Judice was taken in the 8th round in the 2023 draft but due to injuries, he's only pitched in 11 games since. He allowed 3 runs in 11 innings last year and began this season on the 60 day Injured List so we won't see him for a while. Its a shame since he's a 6 foot 8 monster who can hit 97 on the gun.
If you want a classic junkballer, here's 22 year old right handed pitcher Griffin Kilander. Drafted in the 16th round back in 2024, Kilander had a mediocre 2025 in Salem. He was 6-5 with a 4.34 ERA in 20 games between starting and relieving. So far this year he's allowed 7 runs in just 5 innings so far. Still, the year is young and he's got a long way to go. He was a 16th round pick, not exactly a blue chipper.
In the 9th round last year, the Sox took 21 year old right handed pitcher Jacob Mayers of of the National Champion LSU Tigers. He posted a 4.80 ERA for LSU but could hit 97 on the gun. So far he's allowed 5 runs in 5 1/3 innings but he's only 21 and this is his first professional season. He has plenty of time to learn mechanics and harness that 97 mph fastball. Judge slowly with this one.
Speaking of last year's draft, here's 21 year old right handed pitcher Barrett Morgan out of Cowley County Junior College. Taken in the 11th round, he was taken because he was 5-0 with a 0.42 ERA after allowing just 1 run in 21 innings while pumping 96 consistently. Now Junior College batters are much different than professional hitters, but he's struck out 2 of the 3 batters he's faced so far this year. Sometimes, you find talent in little known places. Hopefully that's the case here.
The Sox had high hopes for 22 year old right handed pitcher Brandon Neely when he was taken in the third round back in 2024. He didn't pitch at all in 2024 and 2025 due to injury but so far has struck out 5 batters in 2 innings to start this year. He hit 97 on the gun for Florida University and now that he's healthy, let's see if he can turn it around.
When it comes to injured pitchers, 24 year old right handed pitcher Trennor O'Donnell might be the ultimate "what if". Taken in the 8th round back in 2023, he was 13-8 for Ball State and was a highly touted junkballer. Instead, he pitched in just 27 games since then including just 7 last year before he had internal brace surgery. He's on the 60 day Injured List to start this year and who knows how he'll do once he returns. He was a Chaim Bloom junkballer, not exactly the type of guy Breslow wants to stick around.
With all the flamethrowers Craig Breslow drafted last year, it was a bit of a head scratcher when he picked 22 year old left handed pitcher Myles Patton in the 7th round out of Texas A & M. He was a junkballer that posted a 5.26 ERA in 15 starts. This year he's allowed just 2 runs in 7 2/3 innings so he's off to a good start. Still, you gotta wonder how scouts and general managers look at a 5.26 ERA in college and go "oooooh that's goood!"
Another youngster on the team is 19 year old Dominican right handed pitcher Dalvinson Reyes. Reyes was total batting practice for the Florida Complex last year allowing 27 runs in 16 innings in his first pro season on American soil. He hasn't pitched yet this season but should be brought in to a game any time now. He supposedly can top out at 94 on the gun so let's see how he does now that he's acclimated to the US.
If you wanted another Venezuelan teenager, HERE'S ONE! 19 year old right handed pitcher Wuilliams Rodriguez went 6-2 with a 4.53 ERA between the Complex and Salem last season topping out at 93 on the gun. This year so far he's 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA out of the bullpen. The Sox are banking on a lot of these youngsters this season, maybe one of them will work out.
There was probably not much left when the 18th round of the 2024 draft came around but Sox GM Craig Breslow decided to take 23 year old right handed pitcher and his 7.71 ERA out of Mississippi. His entire pro career has been injuries and ineffectiveness as he pitched in just 5 games to end 2024. He had Tommy John surgery in Spring Training last season and won't be back till later in the summer this year. Who knows, maybe he'll turn it around when he gets back. Otherwise, just another failed 18th round pick in a sea full of them.
Oh look, another reclamation project! 22 year old right handed pitcher Caden Vire was taken in the 12th round back in 2021 by the Milwaukee Brewers and was straight batting practice at the rookie level from 2021-24. Last year he allowed 8 runs in 3 2/3 innings before he had Tommy John surgery to end this season. He was taken by the Sox in the Rule 5 draft and if you're wondering why this guy? He can top out at 98 mph....well before the surgery anyway. Who knows how he'll look once he returns later in the summer.
The Sox took 21 year old left handed pitcher Ethan Walker out of Kentucky University with their 12th round draft pick and he needed to learn control badly. He could hit 95 on the gun in college but posted a 4.08 ERA in just 9 games. This year so far he's 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA utilizing his breaking balls. That's a good sign so far. Hopefully he can keep the momentum going.
19 year old first baseman/catcher Alexander Mambel will be starting the season on the Development List. He signed as a Venezuelan teenager following the 2023 season and had 11 hits in 44 at-bats last year for the Florida Complex Sox. He's only 19 so he's got a long way to go, the Development List isn't exactly a death knell.
Salem's backup catcher this season will be 19 year old Kleyvar Salazar. Salazar signed as a Venezuelan teenager prior to the 2023 season but hit just .215 in 99 games for Salem last season. So far this season he has 9 hits in 27 at-bats which is an immediate improvement. Hopefully he can keep the momentum up when his number is called.
Salem's utility player this year will be 21 year old Frederik Jimenez. Signed as a Dominican teenager following the 2022 season, he hit just .196 in 98 games for Salem last year. If he can make it on his glove, cool, but it would be nice to hit at least Low A pitching.
The baby of the team is 18 year old utility infielder Avinson Pinto. Signed as a Venezuelan teenager before the 2024 season, he hit .235 in 43 games with the Florida Complex Sox last year. This year so far he's got 9 hits in 32 at-bats and 4 rbis. If he can hit Low A pitching at just 18, wait till he fills out and gets more experience.
19th round picks are usually cucka but 23 year old outfielder Stanley Tucker is looking to buck the trend. Drafted back in 2023, Tucker couldn't hit the broad side of the barn from the end of 2023 and 2024. Then he missed 2025 with a broken wrist. Suddenly he turned it around so far this year with 9 hits in 24 at-bats including a home run & 5 rbis. He had 43 hits the entire year in 2024 for Salem so he's in good shape so far. Hopefully he can keep fighting his way up the ladder.
The Red Sox made cost saving trades in November of last year, one of them sent pitching prospect Alex Hoppe to the Seattle Mariners for their 14th round pick in the 2025 draft, 22 year old catcher Luke Heyman. Luke hit 41 home runs in 3 years at Florida University and so far this year he's got one home run in 30 at-bats. He dropped to the 14th round mostly due to a broken forearm suffered his senior year, hopefully this year he shows the power he had at Florida.
Nepotism and the Red Sox go hand in hand. The mother of all was their 19th round pick in the 2024 draft, D'Angelo Ortiz. Little Papi had a decent year in 2025 between the Complex and Salem hitting .269. Unfortunately he doesn't have his father's power stroke as he has just 7 hits in 30 at-bats and know career home runs yet. In any other organization, a light hitting infielder would be on the bench. Here, he's Salem's starting first baseman. Let's see if he learns how to hit better.
Want another Venezuelan teenager? HERE YOU GO! 19 year old infielder Ilan Fernandez was signed after the 2023 season and he hit just .234 with the Florida Complex last season. This year so far he has just 4 hits in 23 at-bats. He's got plenty of time to develop so it would be unfair to judge him at 19 years old. Still, with other teenagers on this team, SOMEONE has to step up.
Following the 2025 draft, the Red Sox took a flier on 22 year old third baseman Ty Hodge. He washed out at Texas A & M going 1 for 18 before bouncing around the transfer portal. He did hit .292 for University of Texas San Antonio and so far he has 9 hits in 27 at-bats for Salem. To go from unwanted to starting in Low A is an accomplishment in itself. Let's see if he can keep going all the way to Greenville.
Salem's starting shortstop to start the season is 20 year old Starlyn Nunez from the Dominican Republic. Last year he hit .248 with 8 home runs in 110 games and so far this year he's hitting just .222 to start. The power stroke may come back but you'd like to see him get off to a better start. Let's see how he turns out once the season gets fully underway.
Salem's starting left fielder is 22 year old outfielder Andrews Opata. Opata was signed as a rookie free agent following last year's draft after he hit .372 with 12 home runs for North Georgia University. So far he has 11 hits in 30 at-bats including his first pro home run. Just like Ty Hodge, to go from undrafted to a minor league star would be remarkable. Hope he keeps up the pace, would be a hell of a steal by Sox GM Craig Breslow.
Salem's starting centerfielder will be 19 year old Venezuelan teenager Enddy Azocar. Signed prior to the 2024 season, he hit .232 but with 6 home runs between the Complex and Salem. So far he has 12 hits in 46 at-bats but with no home runs. He did steal 11 bags last year so maybe he can swipe a few this year as well.
Last year the Sox took 22 year old outfielder Skylar King in the 15th round after he hit .291 with 3 home runs for West Virginia University. He hit .258 with one home run to finish the season in Salem. This year so far he only has 6 hits in 28 at-bats but 2 of them were home runs. Just like some of the others, it'll be interesting if guys can go from small colleges to the big time.
Last but not least is 19 year old Dominican outfielder Anderson Fermin. Signed prior to the 2024 season, Fermin hit .245 between the Complex and Salem last year but is only hitting .214 to start this year. Not exactly a great choice for designated hitter but the season just started. Who knows, he might have 15 home runs by July.
So there's your roster to start the year for the Salem Red So......Ridge Yaks. This team is loaded with Dominican and Venezuelan kids along with 2024 and 2025 draft picks. Some of the guys to watch for are flamethrowers like Christian Foutch and undrafted guys like Ty Hodge and Andrews Opata. Naturally all eyes will be on D'Angelo Ortiz mostly because of who his father is. Still, for Low A baseball, this could be a fun season for Salem. Come down to Carilion Clinic Field and support the Ridge Yaks.
