Minor Notes: Organization gets pair of Rule 5 picks back, Uberstine makes Major League debut
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The baseball season kicked off in its fullest this week as the High-A and Low-A seasons began over the weekend. While the Minor League season got into full swing, a Boston farmhand made the trip to Fenway Park to pitch in the big leagues for the first time in his career.
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Uberstine makes Major League debut
With pitcher Johan Oviedo going to the injured list with an elbow strain and Garrett Whitlock heading to the paternity list over the weekend, the Red Sox made a pair of call-ups from Worcester before the team's home opener. One of those promotions was starting pitcher Tyler Uberstine, who capped off an incredible journey to reach the Major Leagues for the first time in his career. Uberstine debuted on Sunday afternoon against the Padres and looked impressive. While the right-hander took the loss in Boston's 8-6 defeat, he pitched 2 2/3 innings, allowing three hits (one home run) with a walk and three strikeouts.
Uberstine was drafted by the Red Sox in the 19th round of the 2021 MLB draft and appeared in Worcester's second game of this season, pitching four innings, before getting the promotion.
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Rule 5 returnees
A pair of Rule 5 selections from the Red Sox farm system were officially returned to Boston after failing to stay on Major League rosters.
- Angel Bastardo, who last pitched in the organization in 2024, was returned from the Toronto Blue Jays. The right-hander missed all of 2025 as he recovered from Tommy John surgery and was assigned to Worcester and placed on the development list.
- After making the Opening Day roster for the Chicago White Sox, Jedixon Paez was returned to Boston and assigned to Worcester as well. Paez made his Major League debut on Opening Day and appeared in three games for the White Sox, allowing six runs in three innings while walking three and striking out none.
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Other Transactions
- In the early season, the lone injury of the week came from Portland, where Opening Day pitcher Blake Wehunt was placed on the 7-day injured list with a hamstring injury. Wehunt managed to record just one out and allowed three runs before leaving the game.
- To complete the trade that landed the Red Sox Sonny Gray, Boston sent Patrick Galle to the Cardinals on Monday. Galle, a right-handed pitcher, was drafted in the 17th round in the 2025 draft out of Ole Miss and appeared in one game for Salem. He allowed a run on two hits with one strikeout in two innings of work.
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Where are they now
With plenty of trades made by Boston over the last year, a plethora of former players have made their mark on their new clubs early on
- Arguably, no player has started their season hotter than James Tibbs III. Through his first nine games with the Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate, the outfielder has slugged seven home runs and boasts a 1.719 OPS in 43 plate appearances. Tibbs III, along with Zach Ehrhard, were acquired from Boston in last July's deadline deal that landed the Red Sox Dustin May.
- In Milwaukee, a pair of former Red Sox from last season have hit the ground running. Infielder David Hamilton has appeared in six games for the Brewers and has slashed .235/.458/.235 with four stolen bases along with a 7:4 walk-to-strikeout ratio. Along with Hamilton, starting pitcher Kyle Harrison has been spectacular in his first two starts with his new team. The left-hander is 1-0 with a 2.61 ERA across 10 innings with 14 strikeouts and just three walks. Both Hamilton and Harrison were dealt to Milwaukee in the winter deal that sent Caleb Durbin, Andruw Monestario, and Anthony Seigler to the Red Sox.
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Players of the Week March 30-April 6
Mickey Gasper, C, Worcester Red Sox
6 G, 25 AB, 10 H, 2 2B, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 7 R, 7 BB, 7 K .400/.531/.840
Gasper has made quite the impact in his first week back with the Boston organization since 2024. The 30-year-old backstop has recorded a hit in each of the first six contests he's appeared in and has shown tremendous control of the strike zone in the early going. Gasper's best game of the young season came on Sunday when he went 3 for 5 with a solo home run, a grand slam, five runs driven in, and a walk in Worcester's 11-9 extra-inning victory over St. Paul.
Jake Bennett, LHP, Worcester Red Sox
2 G, 8 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 9 K, 0.00 ERA
In his first taste of the Boston organization since coming over from Washington in a trade, the southpaw has looked the part through his first two outings. Bennett got the Opening Day nod and pitched three innings, allowing an unearned run on two hits with five strikeouts. Bennett's second start topped his first as he recorded five shutout frames with a single hit and four strikeouts to round out his pitching line.
Photo Credit: Tyler Uberstine by Kelly O'Connor