Red Sox Division Rival Reportedly Acquired Former Top Prospect

The Boston Red Sox could witness a reclamation project unfold in the American League East.

MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart and The Athletic’s Chandler Rome reported Friday that the Tampa Bay Rays acquired Forrest Whitley from the Houston Astros. Houston designated Whitley for assignment on Sunday.

Drafted with the No. 17 pick in 2016, Whitley entered Houston’s farm system to considerable fanfare. The 6-foot-7 hurler flaunted tantalizing upside when registering a 2.83 ERA and 143 strikeouts in 92 1/2 innings in 2017. Whitley worked his way up two levels to Double-A in a season he began at age 19.

Despite receiving a 50-game suspension in 2018, Whitley entered 2019 as a consensus top-10 prospect on Baseball America (No. 5), MLB.com (No. 7), and Baseball Prospectus (No. 7).

However, Whitley stumbled to a 7.99 ERA that season, allowing 44 walks and 11 home runs in 59 2/3 innings. He missed all of 2020 and 2021 recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Whitley’s prospect buzz dwindled before he made his major league debut last year, allowing two unearned runs in three relief outings. The right-handed pitcher permitted nine hits, six walks and 10 runs in 7 1/3 innings this season before the Astros designated him for assignment.

Last month, Whitley acknowledged that he worried about his future with Houston since he’s out of minor-league options.

“It’s impossible not to think about,” Whitley told The Athletic. “I kind of viewed this year as the last chance, so when I’m on the field, I really got to make it happen.”

Tampa Bay’s bullpen wields an AL-leading 3.21 ERA, so Whitley likely won’t waltz into a significant role. Yet a change of scenery offers the 27-year-old another chance with an organization adept at developing young pitchers.

Earlier this week, the Red Sox won two of three games over the Rays to pull within three games of them in the standings.