Red Sox No. 10 Prospect Could Become 'Elite Starter,' Says Director Of Pitching

Boston's farm system is loaded with talented arms

Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

The Boston Red Sox struggled at the mound in 2024, but the organization’s strong stable of pitching prospects spells a brighter future ahead.

With talents like Richard Fitts already involved in Boston’s big league plans and others like Quinn Priester on the cusp, the Red Sox staff is going through a changing of the guard.

Another pitcher to keep an eye on in the coming months is 23-year-old David Sandlin, who is currently ranked Boston’s No. 10 overall prospect. The six-foot-four righty was originally drafted in the eleventh round by the Kansas City Royals in 2022. The Red Sox acquired Sandlin in February 2024 in a trade that sent relief pitcher John Schreiber to Kansas City.

While Sandlin’s stats this season aren't overwhelmingly impressive with High-A Greenville Drive and Double-A Portland Sea Dogs, he reportedly has a world of potential, not to mention the endorsement of Red Sox director of pitching Justin Willard.

Willard appeared as a guest on NESN’s “310 To Left” podcast on Tuesday and sang Sandlin’s praises during a conversation with NESN’s Tom Caron and Boston Globe’s Alex Speier. According to Willard, Sandlin’s velocity this past year has reached three digits.

“He hit 100 (MPH) … was sitting (at) 96,” Willard said. “It’s unreal stuff. Really excited about his development this year, again really raising the floor to give him a shot to be an elite starter.”

With Sandlin and others improving steadily, Boston’s farm system could transform into a Major League pitcher factory in the months and years to come. It’s a vision that former MLB hurler and current chief baseball officer Craig Breslow must have imagined when he signed on with the Red Sox.

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