BoSox Injection
Fansided

Estimating MLB arrival for Boston Red Sox pitching prospects

By Rick McNair

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 05: The sun sets behind Fenway Park during the second inning of the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins on September 05, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 05: The sun sets behind Fenway Park during the second inning of the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins on September 05, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 15: Pitcher Bryan Mata #34 of the World Team and the Boston Red Sox works the third inning against the U.S. Team during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Nationals Park on July 15, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 15: Pitcher Bryan Mata #34 of the World Team and the Boston Red Sox works the third inning against the U.S. Team during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Nationals Park on July 15, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /

Waiting In The Wings

The top of the line Red Sox prospect is a 20-year-old Venezuelan right-hander Bryan Mata. Mata can throw hard (upper 90s) and has developed an impressive slider and change to his pitching toolbox and is projected as a potential mid-rotation starter.

Mata split his season between Salem (A+) and Portland (AA) and was touched up a bit with the SeaDogs (4-6, 5.03) after his promotion. Mata is getting some higher profile experience in the Arizona Fall League and has posted an unusual twin stat – his K/9 and BB/9 are both 8.7 working out of the bullpen. Expect Mata to be in Portland to begin the season.

More from Red Sox Prospects

What a difference a year makes. Right-hander Durbin Feltman’s stock dropped like World Com’s during the season. In 2018, Feltman got a world of positives after being drafted in the third round and doing a three-team tour that resulted in a 1.93 ERA and remarkable 1.9 BB/9. The hard-throwing Feltman also had a 13.9 K/9. Then came 2019.

Feltman spent the season at Portland (2-3, 5.26) where he never really got untracked. The main cause of disturbance is the usual suspect – a 5.4 BB/9. The plus side is a .223 average that batters tagged him for. Feltman is pure bullpen and never started a game in college or as a professional. A great fastball and nasty slider put under firm control could see Feltman as the Red Sox possible future closer.

The baseball kiss of death for a lefty is to be drafted in the first round by the Red Sox. Henry Owens (2011), Brian Johnson (2012), Trey Ball (2013), and now Jay Groome (2016). Groome almost immediately went down the chute with Tommy John Surgery and 2019 represented his first season or partial season back.

Groome is tall (6’6”) and is a reminder of Owens physically and with similar pitching mechanics with an average fastball, decent curve, and a change. The return was just a toe-dip with only four innings pitched and Groome is projected to start the season at short-season Lowell (A-). The lack of depth shows in the system as Groome is still ranked sixth on Prospect Watch.

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