Red Sox acquire 2023 Eastern League pitcher of the year in Alex Verdugo trade
The Red Sox made their first big move of the offseason on Tuesday night when they acquired three pitchers from their arch-rivals, the New York Yankees, in exchange for Alex Verdugo.
While the trio of Richard Fitts, Greg Weissert and Nicholas Judice give the Red Sox needed pitching depth, Fitts is coming off an impressive 2023 campaign.
In 27 starts for the Somerset Patriots, Fitts posted a 3.48 ERA while striking out 163 batters. Due to his impressive play, he was named the 2023 Eastern League Pitcher of the Year. His first year in Double-A went better than anyone could have hoped, as he earned 2023 Eastern League Post-Season All-Star honors and was named a Double-A All-Star by Baseball America.
Although the 23-year-old saw his stock rise, his performance did not come as a surprise. In his first year in the Yankees system, Fitts posted a 3.70 ERA in 22 starts. He also proved to be a frustrating pitcher to face, as opponents hit .216 against him.
Before the trade, Fitts was ranked as the Yankees 16th-best prospect by Baseball America. The former sixth-round pick throws a lot of strikes, but some scouts don’t think he will stick in the rotation long-term.
As the Red Sox continue to improve their roster, Fitts will be a player to watch in the minors. He has had success at every level and showed improvement during the 2023 campaign while taking on a bigger workload. It will now be up to the Red Sox to maximize his talent.
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