Bad news hit Red Sox minor league camp when catching prospect Brooks Brannon showed up to the complex with a cast on his hand on Tuesday, sources tell Baseball Now.
The 21-year-old broke his hamate bone and had surgery this week. The hamate is a small, hook-shaped carpal bone on the pinky side of the wrist. With surgery, players are expected to miss over two months of action while recovering, due to not being able to grip a bat until later in the rehab process.
Hamate injuries have dominated the baseball world this spring, with players such as Corbin Carroll, Francisco Lindor, and Jackson Holliday all fracturing the bone and requiring surgery.
The injury comes at an unfortunate time for Brannon, as the North Carolina native is fighting for playing time in a suddenly crowded position group. The Red Sox brought in nine catchers to the system across the minor leagues entering the 2026 campaign.
The hype for Brannon grew when he initially arrived at camp looking like a whole new man. The 21-year-old gained 25 pounds this offseason as he geared up for what he still hopes to be a breakout year at the plate. Brannon noted that he was working on swing decisions and pulling the ball in the air more to utilize the power to his pull side.
Brannon is projected to start the 2026 season with Double-A Portland, splitting time between first base and catcher. He appeared in 93 games last season and hit a career high 10 home runs along with a career high 47 RBI.
Widely viewed as one of the top catching prospects in Boston's farm system, it will be a huge test to see how the offensive numbers look when he returns to action. As a bat-first catcher, Brannon will need his power on full display to stick behind the dish long term -- or a move to first base will be in his future.