August 4, 2026 at 12:00 PM
Minor Notes: Red Sox trade three top prospects for Rutschman
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Red Sox add Rutschman in busy trade deadline
The Red Sox made one of the biggest splashes in the league at the trade deadline, solidifying their catching room with three-time All-Star Adley Rutschman and veteran Jake Rogers. The Red Sox sent a haul to Baltimore in return, shipping out three top-ten prospects in Anthony Eyanson (No. 2), Kyson Witherspoon (No. 3), and Enddy Azocar (No. 6), along with catcher Carlos Narvaez and a player to be named later. Eyanson and Witherspoon, the crown jewels of Boston's 2025 draft class, were the top two pitching prospects in the Red Sox system. Eyanson has been phenomenal in his first professional season, posting a 1.32 ERA with 94 strikeouts through 68 1/3 innings in Greenville and Portland. Witherspoon, Boston's first-round selection a year ago, has had mixed results with a 4.78 ERA through 75 1/3 frames in Greenville but he has improved recently after a shaky start to the season. Azocar was in the midst of a breakout season between Salem and Greenville, slashing .286/.341/.540 with 18 home runs and 11 stolen bases. Azocar has five-tool potential and is likely to stick in center field long-term.
In a surprising swap, the Red Sox sent infielder Marcelo Mayer to San Francisco in exchange for left-handed reliever Erik Miller and minor league outfielder Carlos Gutierrez. Mayer, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 draft, ranked at or near the top of the Red Sox system from the time he was drafted until he graduated from the SoxProspects.com rankings last year. The 23-year-old Mayer had struggled at the plate through 114 games at the major league level over the last two years, hitting at a .223/.278/.346 clip. In return, the Red Sox will add an exciting left-handed reliever to their bullpen. Miller has a 2.76 ERA with 12.4 strikeouts per nine innings and he throws his fastball 96.9 mph on average but he has struggled with his control, walking 6.1 batters per nine innings. Gutierrez is a 21-year-old outfielder with a strong hit tool and good speed. He hit .271/.385/.441 with 9 home runs and 26 stolen bases in High-A Eugene this season.
The Red Sox also added some outfield depth, acquiring Eli White and dealing right-handed pitcher Tyler Uberstine to Atlanta. White has hit a meager .233/.285/.406 in 69 games with the Braves this season but he will bring strong defense and speed off the bench. Uberstine ranks No. 19 in the system and he has delivered a 2.81 ERA in 32 innings with the WooSox this season. Uberstine was on the 40-man roster and made his MLB debut earlier in the season, working 2 2/3 strong innings of relief against the Padres back in April.
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Schaffner and Hull make professional debuts
The Red Sox' top two picks in the 2026 draft and former roommates at North Carolina, Jake Schaffner and Owen Hull, reached another milestone together as they made their professional debuts in Greenville on Saturday. Both hitters are off to strong starts through their first two games with the Drive. Schaffner is 3 for 8 with two walks and he ripped a go-ahead triple in Greenville's win on Sunday. Hull has gone 5 for 10 with two doubles, a walk, and four RBI. Schaffner and Hull are the first players in Boston's 2026 draft class to make their professional debuts.
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July Players of the Month
The SoxProspects.com Players of the Month were released on Monday. Salem catcher Kleyver Salazar received the Player of the Month honors and Anthony Eyanson was awarded Pitcher of the Month, ending his time in the Red Sox organization in style.
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Additional transactions
- The wave of promotions across the Red Sox organization slowed down over the past week but Yoeilin Cespedes did receive the call from Greenville to Portland. Cespedes made his Sea Dogs debut on Sunday and went 1 for 5 with a two-run single. Cespedes has jumped from 34th to 14th in the SoxProspects.com rankings this season and was hitting .249/.310/.477 with 18 home runs in Greenville.
- The Red Sox completed their trade for Jahmai Jones, sending Jojo Ingrassia to Detroit as the player to be named later. Ingrassia, a 14th-round pick in 2023, pitched to a 3.27 ERA with 59 strikeouts in 44 innings with the Drive this season.
- Henry Godbout began a rehab assignment with Salem as he recovers from hand surgery following a hit-by-pitch in June.
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Where are they now?
Two years after the Red Sox sent him to the Angels as part of a deadline trade for relief pitcher Luis Garcia, hard-throwing reliever Ryan Zeferjahn found himself on the move again on Monday. However, this time around, Zeferjahn is viewed as an impact bullpen addition for the Cubs rather than a relatively unheralded piece of a four-prospect package. Zeferjahn has a 3.66 ERA in 51 2/3 innings for the Angels this season and he has electric swing-and-miss stuff, featuring a strikeout rate in the 97th percentile in MLB.
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Enddy Azocar, OF, Greenville Drive
5 G, 25 AB, 14 H, 3 2B, 3 HR, 1 BB, 10 R, 10 RBI, 560/.577/1.040
Eyanson was not the only player to win a SoxProspects.com award on his way to Baltimore, as Enddy Azocar also ends his time in the Red Sox organization on a high note. Azocar recorded a remarkable 14 hits through five games and slugged his way to three homers and three doubles. His strong week continued a recent power surge, as Azocar has now hit 12 home runs through 46 games in Greenville. The 19-year-old Azocar was signed out of Venezuela for $40,000 in 2024.
Dylan Brown, LHP, Greenville Drive
1 GS, 1-0, 6.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K
Dylan Brown turned in a dominant performance against Asheville on Saturday, fanning nine batters and allowing two runs (one earned) in 6 1/3 innings. An eighth-rounder out of Old Dominion last year, Brown has been impressive in his first professional season. In 60 2/3 innings since a promotion to Greenville, Brown has a 3.86 ERA and has struck out 81 hitters while walking 21.
Photo Credit: Anthony Eyanson and Enddy Azocar by Kelly O'Connor