Red Sox prospect Chase Shugart on early Spring outings: 'I'm focused on making competitive pitches'
Red Sox prospect Chase Shugart made his official Grapefruit League debut in 2023 on Monday against the Minnesota Twins. After getting into action against Northeastern in the exhibition game, the outing on Monday would be against a major league lineup with plenty of regulars.
Shugart entered the game in the top of the fourth, where he faced a few MLB regulars who will be in the Twins lineup this year. After two appearances under his belt so far, I asked him how he was feeling this year and if he was working on anything early in the Spring:
“I’m really content with where I’m at right now, my body and arm are feeling good.” Shugart said. “In games, I’m focusing on making competitive pitches and dominating the strike zone. Trusting and having confidence that my stuff can play at any level.”
Confidence would be needed going from a college lineup last Friday against Northeastern, to a Twins lineup that featured a large signing from this offseason, Joey Gallo.
“It goes back to being able to trust and have confidence in my pitches.” he added “I know how my pitches play best against a lefty in Gallo, and in a righty like (Kyle) Farmer. What is really comes down to for me is having the ability to execute those pitches.”
Shugart received a promotion mid-season in 2022 to AAA Worcester due to his strong outings out of the bullpen. He is projected to start the season in Worcester’s bullpen, where he helped combine for the first no-hitter in WooSox history in 2022.
The former University of Texas product was a 12th round pick by the Red Sox back in 2018. Shugart is looking to become the first pitcher from his draft class to reach the majors in a Red Sox uniform, and would be the third player overall from the class to reach the MLB with Boston, behind Triston Casas and Jarren Duran.
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