March 28, 2024 at 9:00 AM
2024 SoxProspects Pre-Season All-Stars Pt. 2 - Pitchers
For the second and final part of SoxProspects.com's 2024 Pre-Season All-Star list, we turn our attention to the mound and recognize seven of the more well-regarded pitchers in the Red Sox farm system. This group features two international signees who were just added to Boston's 40-man roster, three draftees, and two recent trade acquisitions.
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Perales, who turns 21 next month, is a Pre-Season All-Star for the second year in a row. Currently ranked as the No. 7 prospect in the organization, the right-hander is coming off a 2023 season in which he posted a 3.91 ERA (4.34 FIP) with 115 strikeouts to 50 walks over 21 starts (89 2/3 innings) between Salem and Greenville. After being promoted in mid-July, he pitched to a 4.95 ERA (6.07 FIP) with 44 strikeouts to 22 walks in eight starts (36 1/3 innings) for the Drive. The native Venezuelan was nonetheless added to Boston's 40-man roster in November for Rule 5 protection purposes and is slated to return to Greenville for the start of the 2024 campaign.
Gonzalez, who turned 22 earlier this week, is a Pre-Season All-Star for the third year in a row. Ranked two slots below Perales at No. 9 in the system, the hard-throwing righty was also added to Boston's 40-man roster in November. Last season, he overcame a rough start with Greenville and ended the year in Portland while forging a 3.96 ERA (3.33 FIP) with an organizational-leading 168 strikeouts to 70 walks in 25 total starts (111 1/3 innings) between the two affiliates. He tossed six no-hit innings in his first start at Hadlock Field on July 23 and was ultimately named the Red Sox' Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Year. Like Perales, Gonzalez hails from Venezuela. He, too, is expected to return to Portland to kick off the upcoming season.
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Richard Fitts: Starting Pitcher, Worcester Red Sox
A newcomer to the organization, Fitts was acquired from the Yankees as part of the four-player trade that sent Alex Verdugo to New York in December. The 24-year-old right-hander was originally selected in the sixth round of the 2021 amateur draft out of Auburn and is coming off a 2023 campaign in which he earned Eastern League Pitcher of the Year honors by posting a 3.48 ERA (3.92 FIP) with 163 strikeouts to 43 walks over 27 starts (152 2/3 innings) for the Somerset Patriots. Fitts is now regarded as the No. 11 prospect in Boston's farm system and will open the 2024 season in Worcester's starting rotation.
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Like Fitts, Sandlin is also entering his first season as a member of the Red Sox organization after being acquired from the Royals for John Schreiber last month. A former 11th-round draft selection of Kansas City coming out of Oklahoma in 2022, Sandlin was limited to just 14 starts last season due to an oblique strain. Before being shut down in early July, though, the 23-year-old righty put up a 3.51 ERA (3.68 FIP) with 87 strikeouts to 18 walks across 66 2/3 innings between Low-A Columbia and High-A Quad Cities. He is now rated as the No. 13 prospect in the system and is expected to be part of Greenville's rotation to begin the 2024 campaign.
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Guerrero, 23, is a Pre-Season All-Star for the second consecutive year. The fiery righty out of the Dominican Republic represented the Red Sox at the All-Star Futures Game last summer and was recognized as the organization's Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Year. He spent much of the 2023 season with Portland, producing a 1.81 ERA (3.36 FIP) with 59 strikeouts to 30 walks over 43 appearances (49 2/3 innings) before receiving a promotion to Worcester in early September. Though he struggled in limited action with the WooSox (7.71 ERA in 4 2/3 innings), Guerrero is still arguably the top relief prospect in the system. He comes in at No. 27 in our rankings and will return to Worcester for the start of his third full professional season.
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Hoppe, 25, is a Pre-Season All-Star for the first time after an encouraging first full season in pro ball. The Iowa-born right-hander split the 2023 campaign between Greenville and Portland, posting a 4.10 ERA (3.68 FIP) with 64 strikeouts to 17 walks over 43 appearances spanning 48 1/3 total innings of relief. Like Guerrero, Hoppe was in big-league camp as a non-roster invitee this spring, but he did not get into any games and instead appears to be dealing with an undisclosed injury that could cost him the start of the 2024 season. Regardless, he is currently ranked as the No. 30 prospect in the organization.
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A hard-throwing catcher-turned-reliever, Troye is also a Pre-Season All-Star for the first time. Like Hoppe, the 25-year-old righty split the 2023 season between Greenville and Portland, forging a 3.10 ERA (3.08 FIP) with 87 strikeouts to 36 walks in 38 total appearances (49 1/3 innings). He then appeared in eight games for the Glendale Desert Dogs in the Arizona Fall League, yielding six earned runs on 10 hits, six walks, and 11 strikeouts over 8 2/3 innings. That may translate to a 6.23 ERA, but it is worth noting that five of the six runs Troye gave up came in a single outing. With that being said, Troye -- our No. 34 prospect at the moment -- is set to return to Portland for the start of the upcoming season.
Photo Credit: All by Kelly O'Connor