Boston Red Sox prospect David Sandlin talks promotion, injury, and more ahead of his Double-A debut
The Boston Red Sox made a handful of promotions throughout the minor league system on Monday. Those promotions included David Sandlin getting bumped up from High-A to Double-A.
The right-handed pitcher was acquired in a trade that sent reliever John Schreiber to the Kansas City Royals. 2024 has been a strange year for Sandlin, though. An injury kept him out of action for a month and a half. When he returned, it was obvious the Red Sox were playing it safe with him.
Due to that, the promotion came as a bit of a surprise to some. However, there are clear positives. Sandlin has been racking up strikeouts (50 in 31 2/3 innings). His pitch mix has looked lethal, and it's creating a lot of excitement for some Red Sox fans.
We talked to Sandlin ahead of his Double-A debut on Sunday to discuss his season, the promotion, and more.
Q: How did you find out you were being promoted, and what was your reaction?
"The reaction was super thankful. It seems like it's kind of been a grind this year, obviously, with the injury and everything. On the developmental side. Adding new pitches and getting the velo goals and everything.
Basically, they just pulled me in after a start. I had some jersey mishaps during the game. Iggy Suarez (Greenville's manager) told me that I wouldn't have to worry about a uniform mishap up in Portland. So that's kind of how I got told."
Q: Thoughts on your season to this point? How has it been dealing with those injuries?
"I think it's been pretty, at least by my standards, underwhelming. I know a lot of the process goals and stuff that they had me working on have been a great success. But the statistical categories have been pretty lackluster, at least for myself.
Just trying to go out there every day and work on stuff. Every opportunity I have out there is kind of just working on things and getting more developed towards the goal of pitching in Boston.
With the injury, I think that kind of almost helped me settle in a little bit rather than go out there and try to do too much. I just kind of simplify the game when I go out there on the mound. Just pound the strike zone and throw the shit out of the ball. Make them earn their bases."
Q: You've been a Red Sox social media darling lately. Everybody's excited. They see you throwing 99, and then they see the offspeed stuff. Tyler Miliken of Section 10 Podcast will post something, and everyone will get pumped up. On Friday, you tweeted about the atmosphere in Boston, and it seemed to get people going.
Is that added pressure for you to see the fans excited about this? Or is it something that helps you lock in?
"I don't think it affects me too much. Obviously, it's great to have fans on your side. But I've been a fan and still am a fan of multiple other sports. So I know how it can be when guys that you want to work out aren't performing to the best of their ability.
Your first reaction is to get mad rather than to trust the process. I don't read into it at all, whether it's good or bad. My job is to go out there and better myself. The fans are just wanting to see their team perform, so I can't blame them for that either."
Q: Who's helped you the most in the Portland locker room so far? Did it help to have Connelly Early get promoted with you?
"Yeah, it was awesome being able to do that with someone else. Especially on a 10 1/2 hour drive up here, getting to follow each other and keep each other company, whether it's texting or calling on the way up here.
In the locker room, I would definitely say Hunter Dobbins. I got to be around him a lot in Spring Training. He took me under his wing down there. Since being up here, he's made me feel comfortable and introduced me to the other guys.
They immediately started messing with me, so it's felt pretty normal."
Q: Who impressed you the most in Greenville?
"I would say [Jedixson] Paez. Paez came in there and only had one out where he's gotten even touched at all. Other than that, the kid goes out there and shoves all the time.
On the hitting side, I'd definitely say [Jhostynxon] Garcia. Garcia got called up, and I think he has like 13 or 14 jacks in a month and a half. It's absurd. That kid can hit anything and plays great defense. But it's a great group of guys. You could list anyone on that roster."
Q: Kind of a cheap question because you haven't worn them yet, but I'm trying to get more people on my side. Portland teals or Greenville Black Spinners?
"Yeah, haven't worn the teals yet. I like the Black Spinners just for the fact they fit really well, and I'm usually not a high pant kind of guy. I've got small calves, so I can't really be showing that off much."
*We talk about Kristian Campbell preferring the higher pants*
"Kristian Campbell looks swaggy with it. I don't have that kind of swagger to myself. So I'd have to go Black Spinner just because I haven't worn the teals yet."
Q: No baseball activity allowed. What are you doing on an off day?
"Probably golfing or video games. I took one for the team this week. We had five guys, so I told them since I'm the new guy, I would sit out so we wouldn't have to go through the drama of trying to figure out who wouldn't go golfing. I gave my body some rest, but he [Hunter Dobbins] owes me a round of golf on Monday."
Q: You're making your Double-A debut on Sunday. What's going through your head?
"Just go out there. Don't change the approach or anything. Don't let the moment get too big. I know that is something I thought of last year with my injury after getting promoted to High-A, and looking back, I kind of gave those hitters too much credit. My walk rate went up and everything. Just fill up the zone, make them earn the bases, and just throw the baseball hard."
Follow Hunter on Twitter @Hunter_Noll.
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