Brandon Neely jumps into Red Sox top 30 prospect rankings following Crochet trade
Over the last ten days, the Boston Red Sox have been busy reshaping their roster. During the Winter Meetings, they landed star pitcher Garrett Crochet in a trade with the Chicago White Sox for a prospect-loaded package that included Kyle Teel and Brandon Montgomery. Due to their departures, Brandon Neely has seen his stock rise and is now ranked as the 30th best prospect in the organization by MLB.com.
After an impressive three-year stint at the University of Florida, Nelly was selected by the Red Sox in the third round of the 2024 MLB Draft. During his time as a Gator, Neely split time between the rotation and the bullpen. He also got some opportunities in high-leverage situations, recording 19 saves.
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While the Florida native pitched to a 5.13 ERA during the 2024 campaign, he was one of the Gators most reliable pitchers during his tenure. In 83 appearances, he posted a 4.24 ERA and only finished with an ERA above 3.76 once. He also missed bats, striking out 108 batters.
As Neely begins his professional career, his main focus will be control. During his final season with the Gators, the talented right-hander allowed a career-high 12 home runs and walked 28 batters. Despite his struggles, Neely possesses an arsenal that is full of potential as he continues to develop.
In Neely, the Red Sox have a pitcher whose fastball tops out at 97 miles per hour. He also has a slider and changeup that keeps hitters off balance. While the Red Sox are expected to develop Neely as a starter, some scouts project him more as a bullpen arm.
Although the Red Sox have not been known for their pitching development, there have been promising signs lately. The farm system includes prospects such as Hunter Dobbins, Luis Perales, Connelly Early, and Richard Fitts, who took positive steps forward this past year. They are hoping Neely will be the next arm to join that group, which is full of promise.
