Importance Score: 50 / 100 🔵
The potential Rafael Devers trade has stirred unease in Boston, compelling the Red Sox to rely on the prospects acquired from the Giants to mitigate the impact. The key question now revolves around the quality and potential of these new additions to the Red Sox roster.
Assessing the New Red Sox Players
Boston secured a major league starter and three younger talents in the transaction. Veteran pitcher Jordan Hicks, 28, is the most experienced player, showcasing seven years in the major leagues with a 16-33 record, a 4.23 ERA, a 1.37 WHIP, and a 1.7 WAR across stints with the Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Giants.
Beyond Hicks, the Red Sox look to unearth potential stars among the newly acquired players.
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Pitching Prospects
Kyle Harrison, 23, Pitcher
Harrison, a third-round selection in the 2020 MLB Draft from high school by the Giants, rapidly ascended through the minor league system. By 2023, he was recognized as the Giants’ premier prospect and ranked 18th overall in Major League Baseball prospects.
According to MLB’s prospect evaluations, his fastball and slider are considered his primary strengths. Despite minor league statistics that were not particularly outstanding, he debuted in the major leagues on August 22, 2023.
This season, spanning eight appearances, including four starts, he holds a 1-1 record with a 4.56 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP.
Jose Bello, 20, Pitcher
Bello, transitioning from a starter to a reliever, is currently in rookie ball following his signing as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2023 for $47,500.
He recorded favorable numbers in the Arizona Complex League, achieving a 2.00 ERA over 18 innings, but remains far from reaching the major league level.
Power Hitting Prospects
James Tibbs III, 22, Outfielder
Tibbs joined the Giants as the 13th overall pick in the 2024 draft from Florida State. Regarded as the Giants’ fourth-best prospect at the time of the trade, evaluations underscore his power hitting capabilities and outfield arm strength as his standout attributes.
Minor League Performance
- Currently playing in High-A ball
- Boasts a .245 batting average with the Eugene Emeralds
- Hit 12 home runs and drove in 32 RBIs
- Maintains an OPS of .857
If Tibbs maintains his offensive production in the lower minor leagues, he could advance quickly, with projections suggesting a potential major league arrival as early as 2026.