The minor league season is officially over for the Boston Red Sox's prospect pool. While the Worcester Red Sox didn’t make the playoffs, they did finish the season with a 76-73 record, the club's fourth over-.500 finish under manager Chad Tracy. It’s time for him to get a shot as a skipper in the majors.
How did the week go for a few of the prospects at the level, though? Some could still help the Red Sox as they try to hold onto a postseason spot. In the final Red Sox Prospect Update of the season, we look at some of those options.
Red Sox Prospect Update: Luis Perales Triple-A debut, Tyler Uberstine, Enderso Lira
Luis Perales made two appearances this week. In his first, which was also his Triple-A debut, the right-handed pitcher struck out all three batters he faced. He only needed 11 pitches to do so, tossing 10 strikes.
His second outing was a bit of a struggle. Perales only faced three batters, walking two and striking out one. Both runners scored after Perales was taken out of the game. His cutter led to an ugly swing for a strikeout, and he hit 100.45 MPH on his fastball, so there were some glaring positives.
Perales was the top pitching prospect in Boston's system before needing Tommy John last year. He’s back and ready to take that claim again. The door still isn’t completely shut on him appearing in 2025, either, as he could be a desperation option for the Red Sox down the stretch.
Tyler Uberstine tossed five scoreless innings in his final start of the season. The right-handed pitcher allowed three hits and one walk, while striking out six batters.
Uberstine posted a 3.58 ERA, .244 BAA, 1.26 WHIP in 25 games (21 starts) between Double-A and Triple-A. He racked up 137 strikeouts compared to just 41 walks in 120 2/3 innings. It will be shocking if Uberstine isn’t taken in the Rule 5 draft if Boston doesn’t protect him.
Shane Drohan allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits over 8 2/3 innings across two starts. He struck out 13 batters and walked three.
Drohan posted a 2.27 ERA, .185 BAA, and 1.01 WHIP in 12 games (11 starts) with Worcester. He struck out 67 batters and walked 16 in 47 2/3 innings.
Mikey Romero finished the season strong, going 8-for-25 with four doubles and five RBI. The left-handed hitting infielder finishes the season with a .245/.300/.452 slash line with career-highs in doubles (33), triples (four), home runs (17), RBI (76), runs scored (61), and steals (five).
Romero has turned into a legitimate power threat. The fact that he’s mainly a middle infielder makes the power that much more valuable. Boston could use Romero’s power and run production in their lineup. He’s another left-handed hitting infielder, though, and there’s a shot he’s an enticing trade piece this offseason.
Some other big weeks included Nathan Hickey going 9-for-23 with three doubles and a home run. He finished the season with 17 homers and a Worcester-leading 75 RBI. Max Ferguson went 8-for-21 with two doubles, a home run, and two steals. Karson Simas went 6-for-11 with a double, four RBI, and two steals. Phillip Sikes went 7-for-13 with a double, an RBI, and a steal.
It only feels right to end the final Red Sox Prospect Update of the season with the Enderso Lira story. The right-handed hitter singled in the final game of the season. It was his first Triple-A hit.
That would be cool no matter what, but Lira’s season makes it incredible. The catcher started the year as the bullpen catcher for Worcester. He went back to Double-A in mid-April, where he went 1-for-10 with a home run. That was his first (and to this point only) Double-A hit.
Lira went back to Triple-A at the start of May, but never played for them until September 18, when he went 0-for-1. On September 21, Lira entered mid-game for Jhostynxon Garcia and went 1-for-2 with a walk and a single (his first Triple-A hit).
Lira is a 21-year-old who, not long ago, was touted as a fantastic defensive catcher who could become a legitimate prospect if his bat came along. A brutal 2024 season in High-A seemed to crush his stock in Boston’s system to the point he was basically just a bullpen catcher all year (in a season where Portland could’ve used some catching help for a decent stretch of the year).
Seeing him get that hit on Sunday and his teammates celebrating was an easy reminder to everyone just how amazing minor league baseball can be. Hell yeah, Enderso Lira.