Weeks before Boston Red Sox players and prospects report to Fort Myers to get ready for the 2025 season, the organization has announced promotions and new hires in its player development staff.
The team announced its many moves in a press release on the morning of Jan. 16. The most notable among them is former director of player development Brian Abraham's promotion to senior director of player development. Abraham's tenure with the Red Sox began in 2013 as the team's bullpen catcher and Chaim Bloom, who has been credited with revamping Boston's farm system, promoted him to director of player development in Dec. 2020.
Patrick McLaughlin, former assistant director of minor league operations, has been moved to senior baseball operations specialist. He's been with the Red Sox organization for nine seasons, beginning as an intern. Jordan Elkary will serve as manager, player development after he served as coordinator, baseball development for three seasons.
After a fruitful 2024 season for Boston's top prospects with Double-A Portland, former development coach Justin Frometa has been promoted to assistant of player development. Nick Guzzo will be minor league assistant, baseball technology after his tenure as assistant, baseball systems.
Red Sox announce player development, training staff changes for the 2025 season
Ben Buck, formerly the Yankees' complex pitching coordinator, was hired as a pitching coordinator and Rich Gedman has been promoted to player development hitting advisor after serving as WooSox hitting coach.
The Sox's minor league training staff also underwent some changes. Former minor league strength and conditioning coordinator Nick Shedd has been promoted to director of strength and conditioning. The Red Sox organization hired Simon Thomas as minor league strength and conditioning coordinator. Thomas formerly served as head of performance for the Western Force, a rugby union club team in Perth, Australia, the hometown of Red Sox reliever Liam Hendriks. Joel Harris has been promoted to minor league rehab specialist after spending four seasons as the minor league athletic training coordinator. Chelsea Willette joins the organization as minor league athletic training coordinator after serving six seasons as head athletic trainer with the Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate. Jake Chaplin was promoted from minor league mental skills coordinator to minor league mental performance coordinator, Delaney White will serve as nutrition operations assistant and Steven Su was brought on as a Taiwanese translator.