Red Sox Not Sweating Quinn Priester’s Triple-A Worcester Debut

Quinn Priester had a rough debut at Triple-A Worcester last Sunday, but short-term results are not the goal for the new Red Sox pitcher's career.

Boston acquired the 23-year-old before the MLB trade deadline from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Nick Yorke. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow highlighted the upside the right-hander could bring to the Red Sox system as Priester hoped to get off on the right foot to make it back to the majors.

Priester lasted 2 1/3 innings, allowing eight runs -- tied for the most he's allowed in his professional career -- on six hits and four walks while striking out four in his Triple-A Worcester debut. It wasn't an ideal start to his Boston career, but the club isn't too worried about the 2019 first-round pick.

"It's easy to react to the one outing, but ultimately, we should continue to focus on the process, focus on the things that we as an organization have identified as needs of development," Red Sox director of pitching Justin Willard said this week, per the Boston Globe's Sarah Barber. "Focus on those things and the results will eventually come."

Willard that the Red Sox need to "make sure we're continuing to build a robust and deep pitching system to help support the big league team, and when guys do go up, providing viable options that aren't a drop in performance from the guys currently in the big leagues."

Priester was still excited to join the Red Sox and wasn't too despondent about his tough debut. He'll look to bounce back in his next scheduled start.