Red Sox Select Massive Pitcher To Put Bow On Surprising Trade

The Boston Red Sox are targeting collegiate pitchers in the 2025 MLB Draft.

Oklahoma right-hander Kyson Witherspoon was the pick at No. 15, with Tennessee right-hander Marcus Phillips joining him at No. 33.

Phillips, 20, was taken far before expected, having been ranked as a late second-round selection by MLB Pipeline (No. 61) and Baseball America (No. 67). Phillips is anything but under-the-radar despite going early, standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing 246 pounds and tossing a fastball that reaches triple digits.

The Red Sox are said to like his secondary pitches, however, as the spin rate on his slider (2250) and depth of release (3.2) are far beyond league average. Phillips was 4-5 with a 3.90 ERA in 17 starts in 2025, striking out 98 batters in 83 innings.

Red Sox general manager Craig Breslow has now selected a pitcher with 16 of his 22 draft picks since taking over in the role.

Boston originally acquired the draft pick in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers, who shipped it away in exchange for Quinn Priester — the No. 18 pick in the 2019 MLB Draft.