Which Red Sox minor league pitcher should be protected from the Rule 5 draft?
The Red Sox will need to make some decisions regarding prospects to protect ahead of the Rule 5 draft in December. One name that should be a lock for the 40-man roster is recently promoted right-hander Hunter Dobbins.
The former Texas Tech product split time between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester this season. Dobbins began the season with the Sea Dogs, going 7-3 with a 3.17 ERA (37 earned runs over 105 innings) and 98 strikeouts over 21 games (all starts), with his ERA ranking eighth among Double-A pitchers (min. 100.0 innings) at the time of his promotion to Triple-A Worcester on August 22. While with the WooSox, the Texas native posted a 2.61 ERA over 20 2/3 innings, with 22 strikeouts in four games.
Dobbins was announced as the Red Sox minor league Starting Pitcher Of the Year.
Since making the jump to Triple-A Worcester, Dobbins has adjusted to the better competition in opposing batters.
"Getting guys to chase in the strike zone,” said Dobbins in an interview with Beyond the Monster back in Sept. “In Double-A, you can get a hitter in swing mode and get them to chase the big breaking ball out of the zone. Here, these guys know what pitch they hit well and what they're not even going to attempt at.
If you want to get that swing-and-miss strikeout, you have to challenge them in the strike zone with your best stuff. So, just getting used to that."
With the 2024 season in the books, Dobbins is happy with the results and the accomplishments he made.
There are always things you can look back at and say, I wish I would've done that better,” said Dobbins. “I wish I had trusted my stuff a little more earlier in the season. You're always going to try to work on stuff, especially being in Double-A and those lower levels. If you're not trying stuff, you're not getting better.
“But, I think my last probably eight or nine starts, I finally fully bought in of, you know what, I have good stuff, and I know where I'm throwing it, so I'm going to attack these hitters. I'm looking forward to taking that mentality into next year and building off of this."
Dobbins projects as one of the pitchers that could help the Red Sox big league club next season. Richard Fitts and Quinn Priester made their Red Sox’ debuts and looked strong in their outings. Priester made nine starts with the WooSox, he went 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA with 42 strikeouts in nine starts. He posted a 2.31 ERA over five starts to close out the month of September with Worcester.
It’s unlikely Dobbins makes the Red Sox Opening Day roster; he will serve as someone to help lead the WooSox rotation. He will be someone that could make a spot start or two before carving out an eventual role in the Red Sox bullpen as a bulk-innings reliever in 2025.
