WORCESTER — The Worcester Red Sox return home this week to kick off their second homestand of the season.
Although the forecast looks grim, with snow popping up as a possibility for Tuesday, the chatter around the club is bright and rosy.
“Gearing up for the 2025 season, there’s a buzz surrounding the young talent within the Red Sox system,” WooSox vice president and general manager Brooke Cooper told the T&G last week. “Fans should seize the opportunity to watch these rising stars at Polar Park before they make their way to Fenway. That’s what Minor League Baseball is all about — you never know which moments we see here in (2025) will help shape decisions about the future of the big club.”
Less than three weeks into the season, one WooSox player has already made his way up to the big club.
On Sunday, the Boston Red Sox appointed pitcher Hunter Dobbins as the club’s 27th man for a doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals at Fenway Park. Per Major League Baseball rules, both teams were permitted to add an extra player for Sunday’s games.
Dobbins, 25, made one start this season for Triple-A Worcester, tossing 3.2 innings last Tuesday at Jacksonville and allowing five runs and three hits with three walks and two strikeouts. The right-hander also pitched in two Grapefruit League games for the Red Sox during Spring Training.
In his first major-league start Sunday, Dobbins picked up the victory on the hill in Boston’s 18-7 win over St. Louis. Dobbins pitched five innings, allowed eight hits, two earned runs and struck out five across 93 pitches.
When asked about seeing so many Red Sox prospects get called up to the big leagues over the past few years, WooSoox manager Chad Tracy shared his thoughts on the matter last week.
“Seeing all that and knowing what we have here, what’s still coming, it’s exciting,” he said. “It’s a good place to be.”
