Red Sox manager Alex Cora had the chance to see pitch firsthand when the 24-year-old right-hander started Boston’s final game of the 2024 season, earning a win in his only major league start after being acquired from the Pirates at last year’s trade deadline. Priester impressed, throwing five innings with just one run allowed on four hits and one walk, while striking out two.
Top star has continued to catch Cora’s eye early in spring training. “He stood out to me — very impressive,” Cora said Friday at JetBlue Park. “He put in a lot of work during the offseason, came back stronger, and we saw what he could do in that last game. His stuff looks sharp.”
He made 14 starts with the Pirates in 2023-24, saw his velocity increase during his final two months with Triple-A Worcester, averaging 94.1 mph with his sinker in his last start and hitting a peak of 96.5 mph — an uptick from the 93.0 mph he averaged with the Pirates before the trade.
Boston has bolstered its starting pitching depth behind its six established starters: Garrett Crochet, Tanner Houck, Brayan Bello, Walker Buehler, Lucas Giolito, and Kutter Crawford. Worcester’s rotation could feature Priester alongside Cooper Criswell, Richard Fitts, Hunter Dobbins, and Michael Fulmer, the 2016 AL Rookie of the Year. Criswell’s rare fourth minor league option allows the Red Sox to move him between Worcester and Boston without altering the 40-man roster.
This depth might be crucial early on, as Crawford is dealing with patellar tendon soreness and Bello has been temporarily shut down due to shoulder soreness. However, Cora remains optimistic, expecting Bello to resume throwing soon and not feeling overly concerned.
The added pitching depth is a welcome change for Boston, which had to rely heavily on bullpen games over the past two seasons. Reflecting on last year’s challenges, Cora recalled how injuries to key starters left the team scrambling. This year, however, he feels confident in the team’s depth.
Cora also highlighted both Priester and Fitts, who posted a 1.74 ERA over 20 ⅔ innings in four starts at the end of last season, praising their performances and Fitts’ ability to throw strikes while maintaining velocity. This version is more concise while preserving the key details. Let me know if you need adjustments!