The Boston Red Sox will battle to finish their season at .500 against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sept. 29 at Fenway Park. They’ll turn to a young starter to get the job done on the mound.
Red Sox trade deadline acquisition Quinn Priester will start against the Rays on Sunday, first reported by Chris Cotillo of MassLive. The Sox optioned Zach Penrod to Triple-A Worcester to open a roster spot for Priester.
The 24-year-old righty came to Boston from the Pirates organization in exchange for the Sox’s then-No. 6 prospect, Nick Yorke. Both Priester and Yorke were first-round picks when they were drafted in 2019 and 2020, respectively.
Priester spent most of his season in Triple-A, but he has some major league experience in his young career. He posted a 6.46 ERA over 94.2 innings between 2023 and 2024. He posted his most recent big-league start on July 27, when the Diamondbacks got to him for five hits and five runs in four innings of work.
Trade deadline acquisition Quinn Priester will start the Red Sox’s final game against the Rays
Priester’s recent outings suggest he’s ready for another shot in the majors. He’s clocked a 5.40 ERA in the 38.1 innings he’s pitched for Triple-A Worcester this year, but his ERA is inflated from some rough outings in early August. Priester trended up in September, and logged a 2.45 ERA with 24 strikeouts and five walks in 18.1 innings to finish out his season.
Boston swapped Yorke for Priester to make up for a severe deficiency on its farm. The Red Sox have struggled to develop starters and have a surplus of middle infielders in its prospect pool. Despite the stellar offensive season Yorke posted in the minors — he batted .303/.385/.449 with a .834 OPS over 123 games — he didn’t have a clear path to the big leagues with the Sox. Priester has a chance to join Boston’s starting rotation next season, and he’ll get an early chance to show the team and fans what he’s got.
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