Red Sox pitching prospect David Sandlin makes first start for the Greenville Drive
Boston acquired Sandlin from the Royals in spring training for reliever John Schreiber
New Red Sox pitching prospect David Sandlin made his organizational debut on the mound for the Greenville Drive on Wednesday night.
The newest top pitching prospect tossed just 2 2/3 innings giving up four hits, three earned runs (four runs) while giving up a home run, two walks and five strikeouts.
Sandlin threw 64 pitches, 41 for strikes, over his first start.
He opened the first inning by facing six batters, walking one, and striking out two. He ran into trouble in the third inning, giving up two singles to open the frame, followed by surrendering a three-run homer to the Bowling Green Hot Rods’ Xavier Isaac. He was removed and replaced by Reidis Sena, who tossed 2 1/3 innings, giving up two hits, one earned run, and two walks while striking out four batters.
Last season, Sandlin only gave up nine homers in 14 starts between the Royals High-A and Low-A affiliates.
Back in February, Sandlin was acquired during the spring from the Royals for reliever John Schreiber.
The hard-throwing righty offers a fastball that can reach 97 mph while also throwing a curveball, a slider, and a changeup.
The Oklahoma product offers a three-quarters arm slot, starting on the third base side of the rubber, and has a four-pitch mix. His fastball tops out at 98 mph; it ranges from 93 to 96 mph. Sandlin also features an 85-88 mph slider, an 86-90 mph splitter, and a 77-81 mph curveball, according to SoxProsepcts.
The righty hit 100 mph in a video posted this past winter, after only topping out at 98 mph in-game during the 2023 season.
Sandlin is one of the newest pitchers added to the Red Sox organization as part of a potential new pipeline of starting pitchers. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow likes Sandlin’s makeup and thinks he will become someone who’ll be a starter in the big leagues someday.
“We had identified him early on as someone that we think is on the rise and has the makings of a legitimate starting pitcher,” Breslow said.
“Loved the stuff, loved the makeup, and we’ve seen the stuff take a pretty significant step forward. Anytime you make these trades, you have to recognize that we’re trading a really talented pitcher over there, and that was difficult. Certainly wasn’t an easy decision. But, like I said, I feel like my job is to do what is best for the organization. And I think this is a chance to do that,” added Breslow.
Sandlin was named to the Red Sox Spring Breakout game roster.
“It means the world for the Red Sox to allow me to be apart of the Spring Breakout Roster,” Sandlin said exclusively to Beyond the Monster.
“Specially being with the team for just over a couple weeks now, it truly is an honor to have the chance to go out in an atmosphere that has so much talent for all the teams, to represent the Boston Red Sox organization,” added Sandlin.
Sandlin projects as a starter at the major league level and is likely on track for the 2026 season. The Oklahoma native is currently ranked as the No. 12 overall prospect in the system, per SoxProspects.