The Red Sox made four roster moves Tuesday. They selected right-handed pitching prospect Hunter Dobbins and outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia to their 40-man roster ahead of Tuesday’s Rule 5 Draft deadline.
Boston opened the two roster spots by designating both right-handed pitchers Bryan Mata and Isaiah Campbell for assignment.
Mata was the highest-ranked pitching prospect in Boston’s system entering spring training 2023. But the 25-year-old has yet to make his MLB debut and has pitched just 132 ⅔ minor league innings the past four years because of multiple injuries.
Mata underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2021 and missed most of 2023 with right shoulder inflammation. It appeared 2024 might finally be his year as he entered spring training out of minor league options and needing to make the Opening Day roster. But he spent the entire season on the IL because of a right hamstring strain and sore lat.
The Red Sox acquired the 27-year-old Campbell from the Mariners for infielder Luis Urías on Nov. 17, 2023. Campbell made Boston’s 2024 Opening Day roster but he spent most of the season injured. He finished ‘24 on Triple-A Worcester’s IL with elbow inflammation.
Baseball America ranks the 25-year-old Dobbins Boston’s No. 21 prospect. He won 2024 Red Sox minor league Starting Pitcher of the Year after posting a 3.08 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and .237 batting average against in 25 starts for Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester.
Boston initially drafted him in the eighth round in 2021 out of Texas Tech. Some scouts considered him a potential late first-round pick or early second-round pick but he dropped after missing his junior season because of Tommy John surgery.
His fastball sits 95-97 mph and has topped out at 99 mph. His pitch mix also includes a splitter, sweeper, slider and curveball. He has a newer splitter grip and the pitch plays like a splinker, a hybrid between a splitter and sinker.
Dobbins adds to Boston’s starting pitching depth. His velo also makes him a potential bullpen option early in his MLB career.
“Obviously a guy who had a really, really good season for us,” chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said at the GM Meetings earlier this month. “Was exciting to follow the progress — both the uptick in raw stuff across the board and swing and miss and durability and the ability to post. He’s put himself on the radar and it will be an important offseason for him to continue to develop. It would be foolish not to be really excited about what he was able to accomplish.”
Baseball America ranks the 21-year-old Garcia Boston’s No. 18 prospect. He batted .286 with a .356 on-base percentage, .536 slugging percentage, .892 OPS, 23 homers, 24 doubles, five triples, 66 RBIs, 78 runs, 17 steals, 33 walks and 99 strikeouts in 107 games (459 plate appearances) for Low-A Salem, High-A Greenville and Portland during a breakout 2024 season.
He made 61 starts in center field, 28 starts in right field, two starts in left field and 16 at DH.
Of note, Michael Fulmer was not protected. The 2016 AL Rookie of the Year and 2017 All-Star signed a two-year minor league contract in February while rehabbing from a UCL revision surgery on his right elbow. He will be eligible to other teams in the Rule 5 Draft.
