Richard Fitts creates excitement for the future with promising 2024 campaign
Richard Fitts creates excitement for the future with promising 2024 campaign
During the 2024 campaign, the Red Sox got a preview of what the future holds with Richard Fitts in the rotation. The Alabama native impressed in Triple-A and got his first taste of the majors in September. As the Red Sox look for ways to improve their rotation, Fitts made a compelling case to be part of the equation.
In four starts in the majors, Fitts posted a 1.74 ERA and struck out nine batters. He held opponents to a .250 batting average and pitched at least five innings in every start. As the Red Sox faded out of playoff contention, the talented 24-year-old was a bright spot down the stretch.
While Fitts only had a small sample, he was able to build on his success in Worcester. Before his promotion to the majors, Fitts put together his best month of the season. The former sixth-round pick posted a 2.89 ERA in five August starts and struck out 32 batters. In July, Fitts only struck out 12 batters and posted a 7.94 ERA. His ability to deal with adversity was a welcome sign.
Part of the reason Fitts was successful was his ability to work out of trouble when batters reached. In three of his four starts in the majors, the Red Sox right-hander did not allow an earned run. He also did not surrender a home run while walking seven batters. Although Fitts wasn't blowing batters away, he made smart pitches and limited hard contact.
As Fitts looks to secure a spot in the rotation, he will have plenty of competition. Tanner Houck is coming off the best season of his career, and Lucas Giolito should be healthy after missing the entire 2023 campaign. The Red Sox also have Brayan Bello and Kutter Crawford, who have had various levels of success.
At the very least, Fitts will serve as a depth piece who can slot in whenever needed. The Red Sox are expected to be busy in the starting pitching market and have a few prospects inching close to the majors, such as Hunter Dobbins. Regardless of how the roster changes, Fitts has shown he can hold his own in the majors.