Over the previous two years Jhostynxon Garcia has risen by the ranks to turn into one of many Pink Sox prime prospects, however he all the time confronted troublesome odds of breaking by in Boston given the membership’s crowded outfield image.
Now he’ll get his large league alternative elsewhere.
Thursday night time the Pink Sox introduced they’ve traded Garcia to the Pittsburgh Pirates alongside minor league right-hander Jesus Travieso in alternate for right-hander Johan Oviedo, left-hander Tyler Samaniego and minor league catcher Adonys Guzman.
Samaniego has not but made his MLB debut however was just lately added to Pittsburgh’s 40-man roster forward of the Rule 5 Draft. As first reported by Alex Speier of The Boston Globe, the Pink Sox designated right-hander Cooper Criswell for task to clear house for Samaniego.
Garcia, 22, ranked as Boston’s No. 6 prospect in Baseball America’s most up-to-date High 10 checklist. The outfielder, who garnered the nickname “The Password” because of the weird spelling of his identify, led the Pink Sox minor league system in dwelling runs every of the final two seasons, and this yr he batted .267 with 21 homers, 75 RBI and an .810 OPS in 114 video games break up between Double-A and Triple-A.
He additionally made his MLB debut in late August however appeared in solely 5 video games and went 1 for 7 with a double and two walks.
Oviedo is a five-year MLB veteran coming off an abbreviated season by which he posted a 3.57 ERA over 40.1 innings in 9 begins. The 27-year-old right-hander missed all of 2024 after present process Tommy John surgical procedure, after which his return was postponed after he suffered a lat pressure throughout spring coaching that sidelined him till early August.
Previous to the damage Oviedo loved a breakout season, making 32 begins in 2023 with the Pirates and posting a 4.31 ERA over a career-high 177.2 innings.
Oviedo, who stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 275 kilos, ought to give the Pink Sox extra beginning pitching depth and successfully replaces Richard Fitts on the membership’s depth chart after the previous Boston righty was traded to St. Louis within the Sonny Grey deal. Oviedo ought to be among the many quite a few pitchers competing for one of many Pink Sox’s final rotation spots in spring coaching, together with guys like Hunter Dobbins, Connelly Early, Payton Tolle and Kyle Harrison, amongst others.
Samaniego is coming off a season by which he posted a 3.99 ERA with 44 strikeouts in 38.1 innings over 30 appearances, the bulk coming in Double-A. The previous Fifteenth-round choose will give the Pink Sox extra left-handed reduction depth following the trades of Brennan Bernardino and Chris Murphy and the attainable losses of Steven Matz and Justin Wilson in free company.
Guzman was a fifth-round pick of Arizona on this previous summer season’s draft and has up to now solely appeared in a single recreation as an expert. Previous to that he began his school profession at Boston School earlier than transferring to Arizona in 2024, and this previous season he batted .328 with a .907 OPS as a junior.
Travieso, the opposite prospect heading to Pittsburgh, is an 18-year-old right-hander who signed as a global free agent out of Venezuela in 2024. He struck out 90 batters in 64.2 innings break up between the Florida Advanced League and Low-A Salem this previous season.
