Proper-hander Quinn Priester is anticipated to make his debut with the large league Purple Sox tomorrow, in accordance with a report from MassLive’s Christopher Smith. Smith notes that Priester is at present with the membership’s taxi squad and could possibly be promoted to the majors to begin tomorrow’s season finale towards the Rays.
Priester, 24, was acquired from the Pirates forward of the commerce deadline in change for infield prospect Nick Yorke. The pair of kids had been in related locations of their careers as former top-100 prospects whose stars had misplaced a little bit of shine in recent times however had been knocking on the door of the large leagues. Priester already had 94 2/3 innings of labor below his belt with Pittsburgh within the majors, whereas Yorke had not but made his large league debut however had raked in 38 video games on the Triple-A stage with a promotion showing to be imminent.
Since then, Yorke has made that debut with the Pirates and gone 7-for-31 with a house run, two steals, and two walks in his first nine-games as a giant league hitter. Now Priester seems poised to make his personal first look along with his new membership within the majors, with Alex Cora suggesting to reporters right now that there’s “ likelihood” he’ll make tomorrow’s begin. In debuting with the Purple Sox, Priester figures to flash improved velocity relative to his time with the Pirates as Smith notes he averaged a full tick larger on his fastball in his begin at Triple-A final week as in comparison with his velocity with the Pirates earlier this 12 months.
The Purple Sox are absolutely hoping that the mechanical fixes coaches have made to Priester’s supply that resulted in that bounce in velocity may even present in his outcomes on the large league stage heading into 2025. In spite of everything, the righty struggled to a 5.04 ERA (84 ERA+) with a 4.82 ERA in his 44 2/3 innings of labor with Pittsburgh this 12 months after placing up even worse numbers within the majors again in 2023. Luckily, Priester has seemingly settled in with the Purple Sox group after a disastrous first begin with the membership’s Triple-A affiliate to the purpose the place he’s placing up stable outcomes, as evidenced by his 3.75 ERA and 26.2% strikeout price in his final eight begins.
It could be an thrilling improvement for Boston if Priester had been to work his manner into the membership’s 2025 rotation plans. The membership’s 3.77 ERA within the rotation is a top-5 determine within the majors this 12 months thanks in bigger half to a breakout 12 months for right-hander Tanner Houck, however veteran hurler Nick Pivetta is slated to achieve free company this offseason and go away the Purple Sox with simply Houck, Kutter Crawford, and Brayan Bello within the rotation headed into subsequent 12 months. Lucas Giolito and Garrett Whitlock are each anticipated again from the injured record in 2025 after misplaced seasons in 2024, however it’s not but clear whether or not both hurler might be prepared for Opening Day, leaving the Purple Sox to probably lean on depth choices like Cooper Criswell, Richard Fitts, and Priester early within the season in the event that they don’t bolster the rotation in free company.
