Red Sox Make Major Position Change Decision Perhaps With Eye on Postseason
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The Boston Red Sox would be in the postseason if the season ended Wednesday, and they're starting to make decisions that can help them gear up for their final stretch before October.
David Sandlin is the Red Sox's No. 11 prospect and the team's No. 5 pitching prospect, acquired in the trade that sent John Schreiber to Kansas City. Sandlin was recently promoted to Triple-A and has traditionally been used as a starter.
However, despite starting in his Triple-A debut, he is being moved into a relief role, according to the Worcester Telegram and Gazette's Tommy Cassell.
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - MARCH 14: David Sandlin #20 of the Boston Red Sox pitches during an exhibition game against the Minnesota Twins at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on March 14, 2025 in Fort...
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - MARCH 14: David Sandlin #20 of the Boston Red Sox pitches during an exhibition game against the Minnesota Twins at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on March 14, 2025 in Fort Myers, Florida. More
Maddie Malhotra/Boston"Hearing David Sandlin will be used in a relief role with the Worcester Red Sox (he started for the WooSox in his Triple-A debut last week) as a possible way to prepare him for a playoff push with the Boston Red Sox," Cassell wrote on X.
Sandlin appeared out of the bullpen on August 5. He gave up two earned runs in 1 1/3 innings of work.
Overall, he has a 3.65 ERA on the season. He could be used as a multi-inning guy out of the bullpen down the stretch if the Red Sox like what they see from him in Triple-A. SoxPospects.com's Chris Hatfield confirmed that Sandlin will be in a true relief role, and not piggybacking a starter.
His fastball can touch triple digits, and he could be a solid arm for Alex Cora out of the bullpen. The 24-year-old has not made his big league debut yet, and MLB Pipeline lists his ETA as 2026. The Red Sox could give him a chance in September to see if he can provide value in October.
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