Arizona Fall League Week 5: How Did Boston Red Sox Pitchers Perform?

Play is coming to an end in the Arizona Fall League as there are only two regular season games remaining on the schedule ahead of the postseason, which begins on Thursday. Eight Boston Red Sox prospects and the Mesa Solar Sox played five games in the penultimate week of play, where they went 2-3, continuing to hover around .500. After 25 games, Mesa remains in fifth place out of six teams with an 11-14 record.

Here's what you need to know about how the five Red Sox pitching prospects have performed over the last week. 

An undrafted signee in the 2025 draft class, Blum has been the Red Sox' best-performing pitcher in AFL play. The 25-year-old right-hander made two relief appearances in Mesa's five games, allowing one earned run on five hits, striking out five and walking two. 

In eight appearances, Blum has allowed only three earned runs on 12 hits over 9.2 innings, striking out 16 and walking only eight. 

A signee in the 2024 international amateur free agent class, Frias made his fifth appearance and second start of the fall in Mesa's 13-4 loss on Friday night. In 1.2 innings, Frias allowed four runs (three earned) on two hits, striking out one and walking one, while taking the loss. 

In five outings, the 21-year-old right-hander has allowed nine runs (eight earned) on 14 hits over 12 innings, striking out 11 and walking eight. 

A 2023 eighth-round pick out of Ball State, O'Donnell got off to a strong start in the AFL but has struggled mightily lately. In two relief appearances over the last week, the 25-year-old right-hander allowed seven earned runs on four hits in 1.1 innings. O'Donnell was plagued by the free pass, issuing five walks to only two strikeouts. 

In five appearances, O'Donnell has allowed 10 earned runs on seven hits, walking seven and striking out seven over 6.1 innings. His 14.21 ERA is the highest on the Mesa staff. 

The 23-year-old left-handed pitcher was originally selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 12th round of the 2021 MLB Draft. The Red Sox acquired Vire in the minor league phase of the 2025 Rule 5 draft. After 2025 Tommy John surgery limited the 23-year-old lefty to only 12 games, Vire made his fifth appearance of the fall last week. Over 0.2 innings of work, he allowed four earned runs on one hit, walking two and striking out one. 

In five appearances, Vire has allowed five earned runs on three hits over four innings, good for a 11.25 ERA. He has walked six batters to only five strikeouts. 

Initially acquired by Boston as part of the December 2023 trade sending Alex Verdugo to the New York Yankees, Judice has spent much of his time in the Red Sox organization injured. The 25-year-old right-hander made two relief appearances, allowing five earned runs on one hit over 2.1 innings. Like O'Donnell, Judice struggled with command, walking five batters and striking out only one. 

In six appearances spanning 7.2 innings, Judice has allowed nine earned runs on six hits, good for a 10.57 ERA. He has walked eight batters and struck out only five. 

Mesa will wrap up the regular-season slate with two games on Tuesday and Wednesday before opening postseason play on Thursday against the Salt River Rafters.