ESPN put a lot more pressure on one of Craig Breslow's biggest offseason Red Sox trades

Improving the starting rotation was a main focus for Craig Breslow and the Boston Red Sox this offseason. The unit wasn't bad in 2025 — they finished 13th in MLB in ERA from starters at 3.92 — but Breslow looked to raise the ceiling. He did just that.

Boston made three moves to address the starting rotation. Two of those names quickly became household names for Red Sox Nation in Ranger Suárez and Sonny Gray, who project to start the season as the No. 2 and No. 3 starters in the rotation. The final piece got lost in the shuffle of the offseason. Acquired via trade just nine days after Gray, Johan Oviedo is currently the front-runner for the No. 5 spot in the Sox's opening day rotation.

Listed at 6'6'', 275 lbs, Oviedo is a 28-year-old righty heading into his sixth MLB season. After missing all of 2024 and most of 2025 recovering from Tommy John surgery, he was able to make nine starts after his return, posting a 3.57 ERA across 40.1 innings.

Oviedo checks a lot of boxes that this current Red Sox regime likes and develops well, which is part of the reason why ESPN's Kiley McDaniel chose him as the Red Sox breakout candidate. Not only does the Cuban righty have a massive frame, he also has elite extension and a fastball that sits in the mid-90s.

Despite high praise, Johan Oviedo still needs to prove himself with the Red Sox

Oviedo has all the keys to break out in Boston, but he still needs to prove himself. As previously stated, he's the frontrunner to make the opening day roster over rookies Payton Tolle and Connelly Early. One of the key influences that plays into this decision is the service time markers for the two rookies. If Early spends 35 days in the minors and Tolle 46, the Sox will get an extra year of control on them.

That doesn't guarantee Oviedo the spot, though. He still needs to prove himself this spring, and Early is ramping up the pressure. Through his first four outings, Early has only allowed three earned runs in 12 innings. The lefty's fastball velocity is also up a tick, which was a big focus for him over the offseason.

Despite the competition, Oviedo seems to be handling himself. In his first four outings, he's allowed just three runs in nine and two-thirds innings, and consistently been striking people out. His biggest issues have been command, but he's been working on that, too.

In an article by Tim Healey of The Boston Globe, Red Sox pitching coach Andrew Bailey relayed the message he's been communicating to Oviedo.

"When Oviedo throws strikes, hitters simply do not hit him well. So...just throw strikes. Don't worry about where within the zone the pitches end up. It'll be fine."

The pressure is being laid on by the media and his teammates, but Oviedo has the tools and the inside track to the job. Now it's time for him to show show why Craig Breslow wanted him in the first place.