Today is an off-day so we're going to take a look at this year's Worcester Red Sox roster. Its going to be a down year for Worcester after a lot of the prospects were dealt at last year's deadline and for Garrett Crochet this off-season. Hopefully Chaim Bloom's 2023 and Craig Breslow's 2024 drafts can produce something because it could be slim pickings this year. Last year the WooSox finished 79-71 so let's see how this year's team looks before the year starts.
RHP - Quin Priester
The ace of the WooSox (for now) will be 24 year old right handed pitcher Quinn Priester. He was a first round pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates out of high school in the 2019 draft and made his ML debut in 2023 going 3-3 in 8 starts but with a hideous 7.74 ERA. Last July, Priester was 2-6 with an ERA of 5.10 when the Sox shipped off 2020 first round pick Nick Yorke for him. He went 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA in 9 starts for the WooSox but won his Boston Red Sox debut with 5 innings of 1 run ball. Quite simply he hasn't lived up to the first round pick success, but for a team that needs starting depth, this is the kind of guy you bring up for 5 inning spot starts. The BoSox are currently missing Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford and Lucas Giolito so if anyone else goes down, Priester is first in line.
RHP - Hunter Dobbins
The WooSox number 2 starter is 25 year old fireballer Hunter Dobbins. Drafted in the 8th round back in 2021, he broke out in 2023 going 9-4 in 19 starts between Greenville and Portland. Last year he went 8-4 in 25 starts between Portland and Worcester, posting a 2.61 ERA in his final four starts for the WooSox. He can hit 98 on the gun and just like Priester, he's an injury away from being a call up.
RHP - Josh Winckowski
Poor Josh Winckowski. Acquired in the Andrew Benintendi trade prior to the 2021 season, he's had a roller coaster career for the Red Sox. He was thrown into the fire in 2022 when the entire rotation got hurt and sunk, going 5-7 with a 5.89 ERA in 14 starts. He bounced back as a relief pitcher in 2023 going 4-4 with a 2.88 ERA on a team left to rot by Chaim Bloom at the deadline. Last year he sank like a rock going 4-2 with a 4.14 ERA bouncing between starting and relieving, used mostly in the rotation in Worcester going 3-2 with a 2.87 ERA. The problem with these hybrid pitchers is that's how you get hurt, just ask Garrett Whitlock. If they're going to keep him as a starter, he better show something in Worcester.
RHP - Noah Davis
The Sox took a flier on 27 year old right handed pitcher Noah Davis this past winter. He was an 11th round pick back in 2018 and made his ML debut with the Colorado Rockies in 2022. In 2023, he crumbled in the Rockies rotation going 0-4 with a hideous 8.70 ERA. Last year he was just as bad in AAA going 2-3 with a 5.77 ERA for Albuquerque. I don't know what Craig Breslow thinks he can do to "fix" a guy who went in the 11th round and hasn't pitched well beyond AA. But what do we know?
One of the best stories to come out of the god-awful 2020 season was the personal life of Robert Stock. He was one of Chaim Bloom's scrap heap pickups (who pitched in 10 games that year) and a Twitter troll said he looked like a homeless man twice divorced. His wife famously stepped in and said he's not divorced but she'd consider filing papers if he kept walking the lead-off hitter. After cups of coffee with the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs, Stock ended up pitching in Mexico in 2024. For whatever reason, Breslow brought back the 35 year old on a minor league deal. Whether or not he pitches well in Worcester remains to be seen, but it definitely will be entertaining one way or another.
LHP - Shane Drohan
What a journey it has been for 26 year old left handed pitcher Shane Drohan. He was the fifth and final pick in the 2020 draft and rose up the ranks through the system between 2021 and 2023. In 2023 he went 5-7 with a 6.47 ERA for the WooSox before being left unprotected in the Rule 5 draft. The Chicago White Sox scooped him up but found out quickly that the reason his 2023 season was abysmal was he was battling an injury. He finally got it fixed with Chicago last year and ended up pitching only 9 1/3 innings before being returned to Worcester. Hopfully he's healthy this year because he looked like he was on the fast track to the majors before injuries derailed him.
RHP - Luis Guerrero
24 year old right handed pitcher Luis Guerrero was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise boring 2024 season. Guerrero was drafted all the way in the 17th round back in 2021 and somehow rose through the ranks from 2022-24. He was 5-3 with a 3.31 ERA for Worcester last year out of the bullpen and made his major league debut allowing an unearned run in 10 innings for the Red Sox. This year he was expected to start the season in the bullpen but his control vanished in spring training, landing him in Worcester to star the season. If he gets it back, it won't be long before he's back in the majors.
RHP - Cooper Criswell
27 year old right handed pitcher Cooper Criswell is just like most other pitchers on the list, a depth piece that can spot start or pitch out of the Boston Red Sox bullpen. Last year he was the defacto fifth starter, going 6-5 with a 4.08 ERA in 26 games (18 starts). He wasn't spectacular but he wasn't garbage either. The additions of Walker Buehler and Garrett Crochet made Criswell expendable and will start the year in Worcester. Hopefully there won't be too many injuries that pop up but having a proven ML starter in AAA isn't the worst thing to have.
RHP - Bryan Mata
Its been a tough journey for 25 year old right handed pitcher Bryan Mata. He was signed as a Venezuelan teenager in 2016, and was one of the top pitching prospects in the system by the end of 2019 after going 7-7 in 21 starts between Salem and Portland. Then disaster struck as Covid wiped out the 2020 season and blew his arm out in spring training 2021, needing Tommy John surgery. He's pitched in just 48 games TOTAL since coming back in 2022. He can throw heat when healthy but he's hardly ever healthy. If he can ever just stay on the field, he always had the stuff to get to the majors. Maybe this year will be the year.
RHP - Austin Adams
One of the under radar signings in January was 33 year old right handed pitcher Austin Adams. He made his major league debut in 2017 with the Washington Nationals and spent 2019-2022 exclusively as a major league relief pitcher. Ironically he was one of the lone bright spots on the historically bad Oakland A's last year going 1-2 with a 3.92 ERA out of the bullpen. The Sox have an old bullpen with Liam Hendricks and Aroldis Chapman so Adams is just a call away if somebody gets hurt. Good to have someone with experience in AAA.
LHP - Matt Moore
Talk about getting a guy too late. 12 years ago Matt Moore damn near won the American League Cy Young Award going 17-4 with a 3.29 ERA for the Tampa Bay Rays and strong armed them to the AL Wild Card. Injuries and age derailed his career after that and he finished 2024 with the Los Angeles Angels going 5-3 with a 5.03 ERA out of the bullpen. He's going to be 36 years old in June but in terms of Worcester, he'd be a great mentor to youngsters like Priester, Dobbins and Guerrero. Injuries and ineffectiveness could see Moore back in the majors...too bad its not 2013 Moore.
RHP - Michael Fulmer
Say what you will about Craig Breslow but he LOVES reclamation projects. 32 year old Michael Fulmer was signed last February knowing he wasn't going to pitch last season although he had a decent career to that point. He was one of the Detroit Tigers best pitchers in 2016 and 2017 but struggled with the Chicago Cubs in 2023, going 3-5 with a 4.42 ERA in 58 games. With his arm repaired, it'll be interesting to see if he can turn it around or at least be serviceable to Worcester.
RHP - Wyatt Mills
Speaking of reclamation projects, here's another one in 30 year old right handed pitcher Wyatt Mills. He made his major league debut in 2021 with the Seattle Mariners and pitched in 19 games out of the bullpen for the Kansas City Royals in 2022. The Red Sox sent prospect Jacob Wallace for him in the 2022 off-season.....and he hasn't pitched since. He started the 2023 season on the injured list and had Tommy John Surgery which cost him that season and all of 2024 as well. Let's see if his arm holds up in Worcester this year.
RHP - Isaiah Campbell
Speaking of guys that should be in the majors, 27 year old right handed pitcher Isaiah Campbell was in the majors last year for the Red Sox. The Sox traded Luis Urias for him in November of 2023 and he started alright for Worcester, allowing just 5 runs in 16 innings to earn a trip to Boston. Then he got hurt and got lit up for 13 runs in just 6 1/3 innings before being shut down for the season. He was 4-1 with a 2.83 ERA for the Seattle Mariners in 2023 so if he's healthy this year, he might be back in Boston or at least used as trade bait.
RHP - Brian Van Belle
The term career minor leaguer gets thrown around a lot but it definitely applies to 28 year old right handed pitcher Brian Van Belle. He was an undrafted rookie free agent following the 2020 draft and has been perfectly mediocre in the minors ever since. His best year was in 2023 when he went 6-3 with a 3.00 ERA in 13 starts with the Portland Sea Dogs. He was straight batting practice for Worcester the rest of that season although he went 8-2 with a 4.42 ERA as a hybrid last year. He might never make the majors but if he goes 8-2 again, he just may get a cup of coffee eventually.
RHP - Jose Adames
Speaking of career minor leaguers, here's 32 year old right handed pitcher Jose Adames. He was a Dominican teenager that was signed by the Miami Marlins back in 2011 and actually came to Portland back in 2021. He pitched in 35 games between Portland and Worcester before moving on in 2022. After pitching in Mexico the last two seasons, he signed back in Worcester last August. If nothing else, he has 39 games of AAA pitching experience. Hopefully he can give something to Worcester this year.
RHP - Nick Burdi
Here's an interesting addition to this year's team, last year's New York Yankees hero Nick Burdi. Burdi is a 33 year old right hander who made his major league debut in 2018 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Last year he pitched 9 innings for the Yankees and allowed just two runs after posting a 2.65 ERA in Scranton. That's the kind of guy you want on a team loaded with pitching like Worcester. If he gets the call, at least he recently showed he can get guys out, unlike others who's best years are long behind them.
RHP - Wyatt Olds
Starting the season on the "development list" will be 25 year old right handed pitcher Wyatt Olds. How he ever got to Worcester is anyone's guess as he's been straight batting practice since the Sox drafted him back in 2021. He was 0-7 with a 8.47 ERA in Portland back in 2023 and was 1-2 with a 5.03 ERA last year before being called up to Worcester. He was 3-2 with a terrible 8.39 ERA to finish the season with the WooSox. Don't blame him for not pitching well, blame the guy who drafted him. Still, he might actually discover something this year. If not, there's always other options.
RHP - Isaac Coffey
Starting the season on the injured list is 24 year old right handed pitcher Isaac Coffey. Taken by the Sox in the 10th round back in 2022, he broke out with the Greenville Drive in 2023 by going 4-2 with a 2.83 ERA in 11 starts. He went 7-4 with a 3.92 ERA to finish the season in Portland and last year he was 11-4 with a 3.17 ERA in 21 starts. He hasn't pitched in Worcester yet but if he pitches well when he comes off the injured list, he might get a call soon or someday.
RHP - Hobie Harris
Starting the season on the "development list" will be 31 year old right handed pitcher Hobie Harris. He was drafted by the New York Yankees in 2015 but never got above AA. His best season was in 2022 for the Nashville Sounds where he went 4-3 with a 2.04 ERA out of the bullpen. He made his MLB debut with the Washington Nationals in 2023 but last year he was 4-6 with a hideous 6.79 ERA for the St. Paul Saints. He signed with the New York Mets in November but was picked up by the Sox in the Rule 5 draft. What Sox GM Craig Breslow sees in him, who knows? Still, if they can get anything out of him, why not?
RHP - Grant Gambrell
Last on the pitcher's list is 27 year old right handed pitcher Grant Gambrell. One of the last links to the Andrew Benintendi trade, Gambrell went 4-6 with a 4.09 ERA in 16 starts with Worcester last year. He's starting the season on the "development list" but he injuries, ineffectiveness and trades might have him back in the WooSox rotation sooner rather than later. Still, the last links to the Benintendi trade are both in AAA, not a good look for Chaim Bloom.
C - Seby Zavala
Worcester's starting catcher is 31 year old right handed hitting Seby Zavala. With Kyle Teel gone, the catching position is up for grabs and Zavala spent 5 years as the Chicago White Sox backup catcher from 2019-23. Last year he hit .154 with the Seattle Mariners and a whopping .188 for Tacoma in AAA. Still, if anything happens to Connor Wong up in Boston, at least they have Zavala as an emergency stop gap.
1B - Nathan Hickey
Worcester's starting first baseman is ex starting catcher Nathan Hickey. Taken in the 5th round back in 2021, Hickey moved up the ranks by hitting .258 with 15 home runs for Portland in 2023. Last year with Kyle Teel seemingly bound for the majors, Hickey struggled hitting just .207 in Portland and .210 in Worcester although he did crack 13 home runs. Making the transition to first base seems pointless with Teel gone, but playing multiple positions will help in Worcester, Boston or somewhere else if necessary.
The Chris Sale trade might forever haunt Craig Breslow after Sale went on to win the NL Cy Young Award last year for Atlanta while Grissom completely failed. He had a bizarre illness in Spring Training last year before managing to damage both hamstrings, playing just 31 games and hitting .190. This spring training he was so abysmal he got demoted in favor of 2023 draft pick Kristian Campbell. If Campbell struggles, you might see Grissom back in Boston. Otherwise, he might be traded at some point as just another BAD trade the organization has made.
3B - Abraham Toro
Worcester's starting third baseman is 28 year old switch hitter Abraham Toro. Toro comes with major league experience as he made his ML debut with the Houston Astros in 2019 and bounced around other teams since. Last year he hit .240 in 94 games with 6 home runs for the hapless Oakland A's. The only reason he's in AAA was the Red Sox signed Alex Bregman just before Spring Training started. Still, for AAA standards having a guy like Toro is very valuable and he's just an injury away from getting the call.
SS - Marcelo Mayer
Its put up or shut up for 22 year old lefty hitting Marcelo Mayer. He was drafted 4th overall in 2021 and lived up to his billing, bashing 13 home runs between Salem and Greenville in 2022. In 2023, Mayer battled injuries and struggled in Greenville & Portland but recovered to hit .307 in Portland last year before being called up to Worcester with the other two members of the "Goldust Trio". Problem is, he didn't play again the rest of the year. With Trevor Story healthy (for now), Mayer will start the year in Worcester. If he hits as well as he did in Portland last year, it'll just be a matter of time before he makes his ML debut.
LF - Roman Anthony
Speaking of the Goldust Trio, 20 year old Roman Anthony is on the fast track to the majors as well. When Eduardo Rodriguez shuffled off to Detroit following the 2021 season, the Sox got their second round pick in the 2022 draft where the Sox took Anthony. He appeared to get stronger as he leveled up, hitting just .228 in Greenville to start 2023 but finishing in Portland hitting .343. In 2024, he hit .269 with 15 home runs for the Sea Dogs before being called up with Mayer and Teel. He hit .344 with 3 home runs in Worcester and was simply a victim of the numbers game this Spring Training. Wilyer Abreu, Jarren Duran and Ceddanne Rafaela is their outfield for now but at only 20 years old, Anthony will be knocking at the door if someone gets hurt or sucks.
CF - Nate Eaton
From prospect to 4A, the WooSox centerfielder will be 28 year old right handed hitting Nate Eaton. Eaton made his major league debut in 2022 with the Kansas City Royals and hit .264 for them. Things went south in 2023 as he hit a paltry .075 for Kansas City and spent 2024 with the Omaha Storm Chasers, hitting just .252 but with 16 home runs. Its clear he's not ML worthy but he's certainly good for 15 home runs for Worcester, that's better than nothing.
RF - Trayce Thompson
The unsung hero of Spring Training this year was 34 year old right fielder Trayce Thompson. He was a 2nd round pick all the way back in 2009 for the Chicago White Sox and made his ML debut in 2015. He hit just .225 for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016 but did hit 13 home runs. He's bounced around like a rubber ball ever since playing for the Oakland A's, San Diego Padres, and Chicago Cubs. Last year he hit .228 for the Syracuse Mets although he demolished 16 home runs there. If it wasn't for the numbers game, he might have made the BoSox this year. Still, an injury, trade or ineffectiveness might give Thompson another shot at the majors.
DH - Nick Sogard
Last of the starting lineup is the team's designated hitter, 27 year old Nick Sogard. Eric Sogard's cousin was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2019 and was traded to the Red Sox in February of 2021. After a medicore 2022 and 2023, Nick broke out in 2024 hitting .283 with 13 home runs. He made his ML debut with the Red Sox in August and hit .273. Just like with others, the numbers game has in AAA for now. That could change on a dime and he could be back in a Sox uniform sooner rather than later.
C - Blake Sabol
Worcester's backup catcher going into the season will be 27 year old lefty hitting Blake Sabol. He played 110 games for the San Francisco Giants in 2023 belting 13 home runs. He played in just 11 games for the Giants last year, spending most of the season with the Sacramento River Cats. If he's going to compete with Seby Zavala and Nathan Hickey, who knows what might happen. Better to have someone that can hit than someone who can't.
UTL - Mark Kolozsvary
Returning this year in a utility role will be Mark Kolozsvary. The 29 year old catcher Mark Kolozsvary had a cup of coffee with the Cincinnati Reds back in 2022 where he hit just .200. In 2023, between the Bowie Baysox, St. Paul Saints and Norfolk Tides he hit just .200. Strictly bench material, his best season batting wise was in 2021 when he hit a whopping .233 for the Chattanooga Lookouts. Still, glove work and being able to catch well gets people far, Mark is no different.
3B - Tyler McDonough
Also coming back in a backup role is 25 year old (26 on the 2nd) third baseman Tyler McDonough. Taken out of NC State in the third round back in 2021, McDonough looked to have been on the right track finishing the year hitting .296 with the Salem Red Sox. Then he fizzled, hitting just .230 in 2022 with Greenville and .250 between Portland and Worcester in 2023. Last year he hit .250 for Portland but just .219 in Worcester. He's not a power hitter or hits for average, that spells doom in the modern day world. Still, he might turn it around, always a possibility.
OF - Phillip Sikes
If Tyler McDonough was a bit of a let down since he went in the 3rd round, 25 year old outfielder Phillip Sikes would be considered a success story. He went all the way in the 18th round in 2021 and his batting average dropped almost every year after. He hit .258 in Salem and .248 in Greenville in 2022, .210 for Portland in 2023. Last year he did crack 13 home runs in Portland to be promoted to Worcester but played in only 3 games. This might be put up or shut up for Sikes, but just the fact he made it this far after going in the 18th round is remarkable.
OF - Corey Rosier
When the Sox famously traded Jay Groome to the San Diego Padres for Eric Hosmer, the Sox got two prospects as well. You never want to be the "other guy" in a trade but that's who 25 year old outfielder Corey Rosier ended up being. Rosier went in the 12th round back in 2021 and earned a call up to Worcester in 2023 with 7 home runs and a .285 average in Portland. Last year he completely regressed, hitting just .225 in Portland and .177 in Worcester. If he doesn't show much this year, he's had it.
1B - Alex Binelas
Speaking of the "other guy" in a trade, that's also 24 year old infielder Alex Binelas. When the Sox foolishly sent Hunter Renfroe to the Milwaukee Brewers to re-acquire Jackie Bradley Jr, they got David Hamilton and Binelas. Hamilton went on to be a speed demon for the Sox last year and is starting the season with Boston. Binelas....he was taken 11 slots after Tyler McDonough and hit 9 home runs in 29 games for the Carolina Mudcats 2021. He's been all or nothing ever since, hitting 50 home runs at various levels from 2022-24, hitting at best .252 with Portland last year. He can hit the ball a ton....when he makes contact, but with launch angle being a thing these days, he just may make the show on power alone.
So that'll do it for this year's Worcester preview. Unlike the Chaim Bloom years where the team was loaded with 4A guys that you didn't want in the majors, you got a bunch of guys that SHOULD be in the majors but are the victim of the numbers game. The Goldust "Duo" (Anthony & Mayer) may make the show this year while Guerrero, Criswell, Priester, Winckowski, Toro, Grissom, Sogard, Moore, Fulmer, Mills and Campbell will be in Boston or somewhere else at some point. If nothing else, Worcester should be good this year.
