07-08-2025
'Best is yet to come': Newest WooSox pitcher David Sandlin picks up his first Triple-A win
WORCESTER — David Sandlin brought his fork to the Canal District.
When the Boston Red Sox prospect was at Eastern Oklahoma State College from 2020-21, his former junior college coach shared an anecdotal story about a terminally ill woman telling her priest to bury her with a fork. The gist of the tale is to say the best is yet to come, like dessert for example, and to keep your fork.
#KYF.
'That's kind of what my motto became,' Sandlin told the T&G in May. 'Just always, no matter what happens, good, bad, the best is yet to come. And it kind of ties into what we believe here in the Red Sox organization.'
And on Friday, Sandlin dug in during his Triple-A debut in Worcester.
The 24-year-old right-hander pitched five innings, giving up four hits, one run and one walk while striking out four to pick up his first Triple-A win in Worcester's 5-1 victory over Lehigh Valley at Polar Park.
'It was awesome. I mean, the fans got into it right off the bat, especially after the first strikeout, so that kind of helped me build a little bit,' said Sandlin, who threw 57 pitches, 40 for strikes. 'And then (my) parents were right there (in the) front row, so I could hear my dad screaming. And it helped me also calm down a little bit, too. That was nice.
Asked what Sandlin's dad, Bill, had to say: 'Just anytime something good (happened) he let out like a big, like, Ric Flair type of 'Woo.' So, it was good to hear that.'
Sandlin was on the road in Richmond, Virginia, with Double-A Portland on Sunday when Sea Dogs manager Chad Epperson called him and teammate Connelly Early into his office.
Epperson then told the pair of Portland pitchers they'd been traded in a package deal. Wink wink.
'Me and (Sandlin) kind of both looked at each other and were like, 'What is he talking about?'' Early said.
'He was basically just messing with us,' Sandlin confirmed.
Instead, the two hurlers were promoted to Triple-A Worcester. Fast forward to Thursday's MLB trade deadline, however, and Sandlin was a bit worried he may actually get traded this time around.
'I would say the most scared I was when the fake tweet for (Minnesota Twins pitcher) Joe Ryan came out,' Sandlin said. 'I was at dinner with my parents. I said I might be getting a call here in a second, but thankfully I'm still here. And like I said, just grateful ... for the opportunity to still be in this organization and grateful for the opportunity to be up here and pitch.'
Acquired by the Red Sox in a trade with the Kansas City Royals last year, Sandlin possessed a 5-4 record in 17 games (13 starts) with a 3.61 ERA and 86 strikeouts across 82⅓ innings for the Sea Dogs in his first year with the Red Sox organization.
Listed as the Red Sox' No. 12 prospect by the power-pitching Sandlin topped out at 98.1 miles per hour on the radar gun Friday in Game 2 of a doubleheader at Polar Park.
With a grand slam from fellow prospect Jhostynxon Garcia helping Sandlin pick up his first Triple-A win, the newest WooSox pitcher was happy to bring his fork to Worcester.
So where does he keep it?
'Right in the back pocket, I would say,' Sandlin said. ' Obviously, good outing today, but (the) best is yet to come. So, just head back down tomorrow and go back to work.'
#KYF.
—Contact Tommy Cassell at tcassell@ Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tommycassell44.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Red Sox pitching prospect David Sandlin picks up the win in his Triple-A start
