Red Sox select Kaleb LaFavor with 10th-round pick

With their 10th-round pick in the 2026 draft, Boston has selected Kaleb LaFavor, a right-handed pitcher out of Bishop Heelan Catholic High School in Iowa. On the heels of drafting Martin Shelar with their ninth-round pick, the Red Sox appear to be going overslot again in round 10. LaFavor is ranked 465th by Baseball America, but Kiley McDaniel has him rated as the 171st best prospect in the draft. He is committed to the University of Iowa. 

On the MLB Draft broadcast, Jim Callis turned heads by noting that LaFavor has parallels to Jacob Misiorowski at the same stage of their prep careers. Both players stand at 6-foot-7 and come from the Midwest. Nobody is projecting LaFavor to throw 105 mph, but he was up to 95 early this spring. Later in the season his velocity did dip to 84-87, and that caused scouts to assume he was headed to join the Hawkeyes in the fall. With Boston taking him at this spot, they must have confidence they can get a deal done. 

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Red Sox select Martin Shelar with ninth-round pick

With their ninth-round pick in the 2026 draft, Boston has selected Martin Shelar, an outfielder out of the Marist School (GA). Shelar is committed to Mississippi State and the slot value for this pick is $205,400.

 

Shelar has plenty of size, at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds according to Baseball America, but that weight ticks up to 205 pounds on MLBPipeline.com's ledger. His power/speed combo makes for an intriguing prospect, as he led the country with 19 home runs in 33 prep games this season and has the potential for 70-grade raw power, while he's been clocked at plus 60-yard times. However, scouts are concerned about his contact skills, as he sells out with a hard swing aimed at getting the ball in the air, with the potential for a below-average contact grade against professional pitching. His speed also plays down in-game.

 

The Georgian played center field in high school but profiles more on the corner at the professional level, but has enough arm to end up in right field.

 

According to MLBPipeline.com, it will require a sizable bonus to sway Shelar from going to Starkville. Baseball America ranked him at No. 125 on its list, while MLBPipeleine.com was a bit less bullish, at No. 175.

 

Photo credit: Martin Shelar by Perfect Game 

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Red Sox select Josh Volmerding with eighth-round pick

With the 244th overall pick in the 2026 MLB First-Year Player Draft, the Red Sox selected Josh Volmerding, a left-handed pitcher out of California Polytechnic State University. He is unranked by both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline.

Volmerding is the fourth consecutive college pitcher and third consecutive southpaw taken by Boston. The 21-year-old lefty spent three seasons at Cal Poly and is coming off a junior campaign in which he posted a 6.51 ERA with 31 strikeouts to 10 walks across 10 appearances (8 starts) spanning 27 2/3 innings for the Mustangs. It is worth noting that he was sidelined for nearly seven weeks (March 15-May 2) due to a knee injury.

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Red Sox select Kide Adetuyi with seventh-round pick

With their seventh-round pick in the 2026 draft, Boston has selected Kide Adetuyi, a left-handed pitcher out of Florida Atlantic University. Adetuyi is ranked 446th in the class by Baseball America. He is the third straight college pitcher the Red Sox have selected, but the first under 6-foot-5. Standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing 190 pounds, Adetuyi lacks the typical frame that Boston has been targeting in the draft, but he does show good feel for spin from the left side. 

The soon-to-be 21-year-old missed his freshman season with the Owls after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He returned in February of 2025 for his redshirt freshman season, pitching to an 8.40 ERA over 15 innings. He was exceptional over the summer of 2025 in the Cal Ripken Collegiate League, allowing one run while striking out 32 over 29 innings. He also got a cup of coffee with Cotuit in the Cape Cod League, allowing two runs over three innings. 

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Red Sox select Brett Lanman with sixth-round pick

With the 185th overall pick in the 2026 MLB First-Year Player Draft, the Red Sox selected Brett Lanman, a left-handed pitcher out of Abilene Christian (TX) University. He is ranked #307 on the Baseball America Top 500 list.

Lanman burst on the scene as a freshman at ACU, winning Western Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year and Freshman of the Year awards with a 3.48 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 72 1/3 innings. His performance was less consistent during his sophomore and junior seasons with a 6.25 ERA in 2025 and a 5.35 mark this spring.

At six-foot-five, 230 pounds, the 21-year-old left-hander has the prototypical height that the Red Sox have tended toward in recent years. His fastball sits in the low-90's, touching 95. He employs four pitches, also mixing in a slider/cutter hybrid, changeup, and curveball. 

Photo Credit: Brett Lanman by ACUsports.com

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Red Sox select Lucas Davenport with fifth-round pick

With the 156th overall pick in the 2026 MLB First-Year Player Draft, the Red Sox selected Lucas Davenport, a right-handed pitcher out of Baylor University. Davenport is unranked by both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline.

Davenport spent two seasons at Baylor after first making stops at Texas A&M and Blinn College (where he won the 2024 NJCAA Division I Junior College World Series). As a redshirt junior this past spring, the 22-year-old righty posted a 6.25 ERA with 69 strikeouts to 16 walks over 13 starts (63 1/3 innings) for the Bears. He earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors.

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Cup of Coffee: Azocar, Cespedes power Greenville comeback on draft day

7/12 Cup of Coffee: It was a big day all over the system. Not to be lost in the first four rounds of the MLB draft, the departure of Franklin Arias and Anthony Eyanson for Sunday's Futures Game, and the major league squad's eighth consecutive victory was a full slate of games on the minor league docket. Greenville pulled off a stunning comeback in Greensboro, as Enddy Azocar (pictured) blasted two homers and drove in four runs. Miguel Bleis and the rest of the Portland lineup pounded out 16 hits in the Sea Dogs win. Salem dropped a back-and-forth contest in extra innings despite a big day at the plate for Louis Andjuar, while the WooSox and FCL Sox were held to just three hits apiece in their defeats. The DSL squads managed a split, with Team Red picking up the victory.

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Rochester Red Wings (WAS) 10, Worcester Red Sox 3

A quartet of Rochester hurlers held the WooSox to just three hits. Braiden Ward led the way at the plate with a triple and a walk, scoring two of the three Worcester runs. Nick Sogard also tripled, spoiling a no-hit bid in the sixth inning. Michael Sansone took the loss, allowing seven runs on eight hits in five innings, with the biggest blow a grand slam in the fourth that gave the Red Wings a 7-0 advantage.

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Podcast Ep. #421: 2026 Draft, Day One Recap

In the wee hours on Saturday night, Chris hopped on to provide a quick recap of the first three picks of the 2026 Red Sox draft class, UNC teammates Jake Schaffner and Owen Hull and Wisconsin high school shortstop Jace Mataczynski. Listen in for scouting reports and big-picture takeaways from Day One!

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Red Sox select Jace Mataczynski with No. 96 overall pick

With their third-round pick in the 2026 draft, Boston has selected Jace Mataczynski, a shortstop out of Hudson HS (WI). Mataczynski is committed to Auburn and the slot value for this selection is $815,700. This is the third consecutive year that a high school player from the Badger State has been selected in the first five rounds.

Prior to the fall, it seemed like the Wisconsin product would get to campus and end up on the Plains, but he had a great event at Perfect Game's WWBA World Championship in Jupiter, Florida, going 6 for 11 with three extra-base hits.

 

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Red Sox select Owen Hull with 67th overall pick

With the 67th overall pick in the 2026 MLB First-Year Player Draft, the Red Sox selected Owen Hull, an outfielder out of the University of North Carolina. Hull is ranked 60th in the draft class by Baseball America and 67th by MLB Pipeline. 

The Red Sox have opened their 2026 draft with a pair of UNC hitters, going the outfield route with their pick in Competitive Balance Round B. After spending the first two seasons of his college career at George Mason University, Hull transferred to UNC for the 2026 season and had a stellar season with the Tarheels. In 69 games as a junior, Hull hit .393/.500/.615 with 27 doubles, 9 home runs, and 18 stolen bases. Like first-round pick Jake Schaffner, Hull was named to the First Team All-ACC. 

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Red Sox select Jake Schaffner with first-round pick

With the 20th overall pick in the 2026 MLB First-Year Player Draft, the Red Sox selected Jake Schaffner, a shortstop out of the University of North Carolina. Schaffner is ranked 98th in the draft class by Baseball America and 75th by MLB Pipeline.

Schaffner spent one season at North Carolina after transferring from North Dakota State, where he was a two-time All-Summit League First Team honoree and the 2025 Summit League Defensive Player of the Year. As a junior this past spring, the left-handed hitting 21-year-old batted .356/.467/.552 with 19 doubles, eight triples, six home runs, 50 RBIs, 85 runs scored, 26 stolen bases, 45 walks, and 32 strikeouts in 68 games (339 plate appearances) for the Tar Heels. He was named a 2026 First Team All-ACC selection.

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Cup of Coffee: Rosario's two homers power Portland comeback

7/11 Cup of Coffee: Twas the night before Draft Day, and all through the system, all seven affiliates were stirring, the prospects, we'll list 'em. 

Forgive the poetry on Draft Eve, but there is a full slate of games to attend to. Stateside affiliates won four out of five. Ronald Rosario (pictured) went deep twice as part of Portland's 13-hit, four-homer attack. Greenville and Salem had matching 9-8 victories, with Mason White leading the way for the Drive and Andrews Opata powering the RidgeYaks. Sadbiel Delzine continued to impress as the FCL Sox emerged victorious. Worcester dropped its contest against a former cohort, while the DSL squads found themselves swept away again. 

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Rochester Red Wings (WAS) 10, Worcester Red Sox 4

Old friend Luis Perales held the WooSox at bay, snapping their winning streak at four games. The longtime Red Sox farmhand battled through some early control trouble, but Worcester failed to fully capitalize. Braiden Ward led off the first with a walk, swiped second for his 40th steal of the season, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and raced home on a wild pitch. Perales walked the next two but quickly settled in. Tyler McDonough was 2 for 4 with a two-run homer in the ninth. Kristian Campbell singled and drew a pair of walks, while Mickey Gasper worked three free passes. Starter Raymond Burgos allowed four runs on seven hits in five innings of work, walking one and striking out one.

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Cup of Coffee: Guzman stays hot for Salem; Sogard starts triple play in Worcester

7/10 Cup of Coffee: Thursday's slate featured three high-scoring games, two one-run games, and two postponements. Nick Sogard (pictured) drove in two runs and started a triple play in Worcester's win over Rochester. Franklin Arias, Nate Baez, and Brooks Brannon all homered in Portland's loss to New Hampshire. Antonio Anderson, Justin Gonzales, and Stanley Tucker all went deep in Greenville's win over Greensboro. Adonys Guzman left the yard in Salem's loss to Columbia. Jhorman Bravo tallied three hits and stole six bases in the Florida Complex League.  

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Worcester Red Sox 8, Rochester Red Wings (WAS) 7

Osvaldo Berrios went three innings in his start for Worcester, allowing only one run on three hits (including a home run), one walk, one hit-by-pitch, and one strikeout. He threw 39 pitches (24 strikes) and generated seven whiffs. Tyler Uberstine also gave up a solo homer over an otherwise effective three innings of relief and was ultimately credited with the win. Lefties Tyler Samaniego and Alec Gamboa combined to surrender five additional runs before Gamboa closed things out in the ninth.

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Podcast Ep #420: Draft Preview with Baseball America’s Carlos Collazo

Ian Cundall is joined by Baseball America’s Carlos Collazo to preview this weekend’s draft! Ian starts the show by briefly discussing the surging Red Sox and how sustainable it is. He is then joined by Carlos to discuss the class in general, its strengths and weaknesses, and how it compares to past years. After that, they go into the players who could be in play for the Red Sox at 20, and Carlos’ favorite draft sleepers. Finally, the wrap-up discussing Brody Bumilia’s draft status after his recent injury.

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Cup of Coffee: McDonough powers WooSox sweep; Tolbert rolls for RidgeYaks

7/9 Cup of Coffee: It was a busy day down on the farm despite the complex leagues getting their regular Wednesday break, with six games across the four full-season squads. Tyler McDonough (pictured) led the way in Worcester's doubleheader sweep at Polar Park as Hayden Mullins introduced himself to the International League. Johanfran Garcia had a big day as Portland split its twinbill, while Cole Tolbert continued to impress for Salem. Greenville continued to falter, dropping its 10th game out of its last 12. 

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Worcester Red Sox 5, Rochester Red Wings (WAS) 4 (Game 1)

Following Tuesday's rainout, the WooSox opened their doubleheader with a victory as Hayden Mullins made his Triple-A debut. The 2022 12th-round pick, was called up from Portland to make the start. He allowed a solo home run to the second batter he faced but completed three innings without any further damage. Mullins gave up four hits, walking four and striking out three. Noah Song followed with two innings of relief, wih a solo homer his only blemish as well. Devin Sweet gave up two unearned runs in 1 2/3 to get credit for the win, and Wyatt Olds retired the final batter for his third save of the year. 

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Cup of Coffee: King hits for the cycle; Ingrassia strikes out ten

7/8 Cup of Coffee: It was a damp day for the Red Sox affiliates, as the WooSox, Sea Dogs, and FCL Sox were all rained out while the DSL Blue squad's attempt at a doubleheader was spoiled by the rain. Jojo Ingrassia (pictured) turned in a phenomenal performance and Ronny Hernandez reached base four times to lead the Drive to a win, while Skylar King hit for the cycle in a high-scoring win for the RidgeYaks. 

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Rochester Red Wings (WAS) @ Worcester Red Sox (postponed)

The opener of the WooSox series against Rochester was postponed due to rain and will made up as part of a doubleheader today. 

 

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Portland Sea Dogs @ New Hampshire Fisher Cats (TOR) (postponed)

The Sea Dogs were also impacted by the stormy weather in the Northeast on Tuesday, as their series opener in New Hampshire was rained out and will be made up in a doubleheader today. 

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Minor Notes: Red Sox acquire Harris; Sandoval nears return

It is the calm before the storm in the minor league season, as the Red Sox prepare to add a flood of talent to the organization in the MLB draft next weekend. With the draft and All-Star break rapidly approaching, the Red Sox made a few transactions over the last week and Franklin Primera, one of the top risers in the system this season, made his debut in Salem after a recent promotion. 

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Red Sox trade for Brett Harris

The Red Sox added some infield depth last Wednesday, acquiring Brett Harris from the Athletics. Harris has spent most of his time at first and third base for Triple-A Las Vegas this season while slashing .336/.441/.537 in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. Since the trade, he has reported to Worcester and gone 1 for 11 in three games. In return, the Red Sox sent Ben Hansen to the A's. Hansen was a 20th round pick out of BYU in 2024 and he had pitched to a 4.75 ERA in 41 2/3 innings with Greenville this season.  

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Cup of Coffee: Velasquez homers twice, drives in seven runs; Rodriguez also goes deep

7/7 Cup of Coffee: Monday's slate consisted of three high-scoring games for Boston's rookie-level affiliates. In the Florida Complex League, Jorge Rodriguez (pictured) homered and Maximus Martin picked up two hits. In the Dominican Summer League, Isaac Velasquez went off for two home runs and seven RBIs as part of his first career three-hit performance. 

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FCL Rays 12, FCL Red Sox 7

Jorge Rodriguez put together a productive afternoon at the plate, going 1 for 3 with his third home run of the season, one RBI, two runs scored, two stolen bases, and two walks. Maximus Martin went 2 for 3 with one run scored and one walk. Jhorman Bravo and Edwin Darville each went 2 for 4. Bravo drove in one run, stole one base, and drew one walk. Darville drove in one run, scored another, and drew one walk. Harold Rivas doubled, scored one run, and drew one walk. Josue Brito and Dorian Soto combined for two RBIs and three walks.

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Cup of Coffee: Wehunt and Paez shut down Altoona; Gasper fuels Worcester win

7/6 Cup of Coffee: A home run from Andrew Knizner and Mickey Gasper stealing home highlighted a key win for Worcester. Portland dominated in all facets, with Blake Wehunt and Jedixson Paez (pictured) shutting down Altoona. Home runs from Isaiah Jackson and Mason White was not enough for Greenville, while Salem's offense went quiet as its three-game winning streak came to an end. 

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Worcester Red Sox 7, Syracuse Mets (NYM) 3

The WooSox posted five runs in the first and never looked back in a series-clinching win. A two-run home run from Andrew Knizner, his first for Worcester, plated the final runs of the first inning. Tyler McDonough finished 2 for 5 with a double and a stolen base, while Mickey Gasper went 2 for 3 with two doubles, two walks, and an RBI. Gasper stole home in the first inning as part of a successful double steal with Allan Castro. Starter Raymond Burgos was one out shy of earning the win as he allowed one run over 4 2/3 innings. Both Tyler Uberstine and Wyatt Olds posted two strikeouts and a groundout in their scoreless frames. 

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Cup of Coffee: Cespedes slugs two homers in Greenville, Delzine looks stellar in the FCL

7/5 Cup of Coffee: The Boston affiliates saw themselves goes 4-3 on Saturday with plenty of highlights within. In Portland, Anthony Eyanson followed a strong start from a rehabbing Patrick Sandoval, Yoeilin Cespedes (pictured) continued a breakout season with two more home runs for the Drive, and Sadbiel Delzine turned in another shutout performance in the complex league. 

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Syracuse Mets (NYM) 6, Worcester Red Sox 5

Worcester aimed to mount a massive late-inning comeback after falling behind 6-0, but stranded the tying run on third base in the ninth inning to drop its second in a row. After Seth Martinez pitched a scoreless first and second, Noah Song got roughed up as he ended up taking the loss. While recording just four outs, Song was tagged for five runs on five hits with a pair of walks and a single strikeout on his line. Tyler Samaniego, Angel Bastardo and Osvaldo Berrios combined the pitch the final 4 2/3, allowing one run with five strikeouts combined. 

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