Kennesaw State righty makes his Salem Red Sox debut on Thursday night
The Red Sox drafted 6-foot-7 right-hander Blake Wehunt in the ninth round of the 2023 MLB Draft. The Georgia native made his first start of the season for the Low-A Salem Red Sox on Thursday night.
Wehunt tossed 2 2/3 innings, giving up three hits and two runs, both earned, while walking four and striking out three. The righty threw 61 pitches, 33 for strikes, in the outing.
This was just his second outing in the Red Sox organization following being drafted last year. He threw one inning for the FCL Red Sox towards the end of last season; he recorded one strikeout while allowing one hit off six pitches.
The first inning for Wehunt went seamless, allowing just one hit to Delmarva Shorebirds’ Aron Estrada, who was the only base runner in the inning. After a quick second inning, Wehunt got into trouble in the third inning.
The Shorebirds would make the righty pay, opening the frame with a leadoff single, followed by a walk and wild pitch. The left fielder Estrada would plate Delmarva’s first runs, connecting for a line drive double into left field, putting them up 2-0. Wehunt would issue another walk to the next batter before striking out the next two.
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Salem would opt to remove Wehunt from the game in favor of Max Carlson. The right-handed hurler tossed 3 1/3 scoreless innings of relief, allowing just one walk with eight strikeouts.
The tall hurler was a starter in college, pitching for both Southern Mississippi and Kennesaw State. The 23-year-old throws from a three-quarters arm slot and has a three-pitch mix, a fastball that registers between 93 and 94 mph, a slider, and a splitter.
Despite Wehunt’s first appearance for Salem, he projects as more of a multi-inning reliever, per SoxProspects.
“Ceiling of a multi-inning depth reliever. Lacks a plus pitch, but has three pitches he is comfortable throwing for strikes, and size you do not often see. Really imposing presence on the mound with an off-putting delivery for hitters and solid present stuff,” according to the SoxProspects scouting report.
