Notable top pitching prospects for the Boston Red Sox took the mounds on the backfields at JetBlue Park on Friday morning with the top draft trio of Kyson Witherspoon, Anthony Eyanson, and Marcus Phillips making their spring debuts.
After Witherspoon was selected by Boston in the first round in 2025, the organization chose to keep him in Fort Myers and save the debut for 2026. Fresh off a full offseason of velo training and working with the pitching development staff, Witherspoon touched 97 mph during his live at-bat session on Thursday. A very positive sign for an arm that is projected to be a quick mover through the minor league system.
Eyanson was selected in the third round last year after helping win a National Championship at LSU. During his final season in Baton Rouge, Eyanson told me he was sitting 89-92 mph. After the draft while working with the Red Sox staff, those numbers jumped to 93-95 mph. On Friday, those numbers had increased once again and is now sitting 95-97 mph. This would be a huge development for the organization, as Eyanson's upside will continue to rise into a future MLB starter.
Other Red Sox Notes:
-- 2025 fifth-rounder Christian Foutch was the hardest thrower of the day and showed success on the mound against top hitting prospect Franklin Arias. Multiple members of the staff came away impressed.
-- Brady Tygart is a name to keep an eye on. Tygert was an over-slot signing in the 2024 draft after an excellent final season at Arkansas in their starting rotation. Tygart only appeared in six games in 2025 due to a bout with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. He has since recovered and has been touching 96 mph this spring.
-- Alex Bouchard touched 96 mph today while facing Roman Anthony and Nate Eaton in live at-bats. Bouchard, who models his pitching repertoire after Seattle Mariners' star pitcher Bryan Woo, has been a bit of a late bloomer after recovering from Tommy John surgery while being drafted.
-- Matt Duffy, the team's 2023 fourth-rounder, told me he is circling July as a return date after missing all of last season due to Tommy John surgery.