Quinn Priester faces Pirates for the first time since trade, Masataka Yoshida bats second and at DH
The Red Sox will continue their Grapefruit League play when they go on the road to face the Pirates in Bradenton, Florida.
Boston will start Quinn Priester, who will face his old team for the first time since he was traded last summer for infielder Nick Yorke.
Priester tossed two scoreless frames, surrendering two hits while walking two, with a strikeout versus the Tigers last Thursday.
The right-hander has been impressive in camp, opening the eyes of his manager, Alex Cora, and others on the Sox’ staff.
“He wants to be part of a winning culture,” said WooSox pitching coach Dan DeLucia. “He wants to be part of a winning team. And he himself wants to be the best version of himself. I'd say he's along the line sometimes as like a perfectionist, but not in a good way. And he's passionate, man. When he feels something, when he has something in his head, he just wants to get it out and talk through it.”
Masataka Yoshida is back in the lineup following his first spring game this past weekend. Yoshida went 2-for-3, drilling a ground rule double on the first pitch he saw, driving in two runs. He also added an RBI single that scored Trevor Story in his second at-bat of the game.
“I’m excited about the bat,” Cora said on Sunday about Yoshida. “When he was locked in his first year here, he was one of the best hitters in the business — hitting the ball hard, hitting the ball in the air.”
Abraham Toro will lead off and play third base. He is coming off going 1-for-1 with a two-run homer in the 6-6 tie against the Orioles on Monday. Toro is hitting .308 with one homer, four RBI, and owning a .972 OPS this spring.
What happened on Monday?
Hunter Dobbins started and tossed two innings where he gave up two runs, one earned off two hits while walking one. Dobbins gave up a first-inning homer to Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman.
Adam Ottavino made his 1st appearance of 2025, tossing a 1-2-3 inning and striking out two of his three batters faced.
Abraham Toro (7th inning), Nathan Hickey (7th inning), and Nick Sogard (8th inning) each hit two-run homers in the game.
Key stats, information, and Red Sox lineup
Today marks the first of two spring training meetings between the Red Sox and Pirates. Pittsburgh will visit JetBlue Park on 3/21. The two clubs will meet in the regular season for a three-game series at Fenway Park from 8/29 to 8/31. Boston swept the Pirates in the three-game series at PNC Park last April.
The Red Sox are also expected to have right-handers Michael Fulmer, Luis Guerrero, Justin Slaten, and Jacob Webb to pitch after Priester.
The Pirates will have left-handed hurler Andrew Heaney on the hill, making his first spring appearance. Pittsburgh signed Heaney at the end of February to a one-year, $5 million deal.
Garrett Crochet will start for the Red Sox on Wednesday when the Rays come to JetBlue Park.
Red Sox (4-4-1) vs. Pirates (6-4)
Abraham Toro 3B
Masataka Yoshida DH
Vaughn Grissom 2B
Triston Casas 1B
Trayce Thompson CF
Nick Sogard SS
Kristian Campbell LF
Nate Eaton RF
Seby Zavala C
SP Quinn Priester: (0-0, 2.25 ERA, 4 IP, 1 K, 1.75 WHIP)
The first pitch is at 1:05 p.m., and the game can be heard on WEEI 850 AM and can be seen on NESN.
Red Sox lack depth at first base, one internal option getting reps this spring
The Red Sox lack depth behind first baseman Triston Casas.