Red Sox Notes: Hunter Dobbins Deserves To Keep Rotation Spot

The Boston Red Sox should be absolutely thrilled in the starts they’ve gotten from Hunter Dobbins in 2025.

He entered spring training with the likes of Quinn Priester and Richard Fitts to add supportive depth to the rotation in Garrett Crochet, Brayan Bello, Tanner Houck and Lucas Giolito. Well, Priester struggled and got traded to the Milwaukee Brewers. Fitts looked solid before hitting the injured list with a pectoral injury.

That’s put more on Dobbins’ plate to come up from Triple-A Worcester and he pitched his way onto more radars. His stock remained little known before 2025 but he’s more than proved his worth.

Dobbins pitched six shutout innings against the Kansas City Royals with just five hits allowed and six strikeouts. He ran his fastball up to 98 MPH on the night and spotted his arsenal well. He dropped his ERA to 2.78 in four MLB starts and showed just why the Red Sox originally trusted him as depth in 2025. Boston still dropped the game 2-1 in 12 innings, but the Red Sox starter came to play Friday night.

“Good fastball, off-speed early to get ahead,” Cora told reporters, as seen on NESN’s postgame coverage. “He was able to use his fastball late in counts. He was really good.”

“We stuck to it,” Dobbins told reporters, as seen on NESN’s postgame coverage. “Some absolutely great defensive plays behind me. Just let me pitch to contact and go after guys.”

Arms like Fitts, Walker Buehler and Kutter Crawford are still set to return from injury. When they do, it’ll be hard to deny Dobbins’ production. He deserves continued outings for the Red Sox, whether he’s locked into a rotation spot or in more spot starts as depth.

“He’s been really good,” Cora added. “He has a good mix. He has a good fastball. Today, he was under control. He gave us more than enough.”

Here are more notes from Friday’s Red Sox-Royals game:

— Boston fell to 3-3 in extra innings this season and 6-15 when the lineup strikes out 10 or more times.

— The Royals remain scorching hot to start the season. Kansas City moved to 16-2 in the last 18 games with Friday’s walk-off win.

— Red Sox ownership traveled to meet with Rafael Devers in Kansas City following Thursday’s comments.

— Cora and Craig Breslow labeled first base talks with Devers as “ongoing” for the Red Sox.

— The Red Sox and Royals continue their three-game series Saturday night at Kauffman Stadium. Garrett Crochet takes the ball for Boston while Cole Ragans counters for Kansas City. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. ET. You can catch the game, plus an hour of pregame coverage, on NESN.