It hasn’t been the professional debut of dreams for the Boston Red Sox' 2025 first-round pick as he continues to see his stock fall amid a slow start.
BOSTON -- While many of the Boston Red Sox top prospects have seen their stocks skyrocket in 2026, the same cannot be said for 2025 first-round pick Kyson Witherspoon, who has seen his stock drop significantly following a slow start to his professional career.
The Red Sox selected Witherspoon with the 15th overall pick in the 2025 MLB out of the University of Oklahoma, signing him for $5 million, which was just under the $5,114,200 slot value associated with the pick. After spending the remainder of 2025 in the Red Sox pitching lab in Fort Myers, he was assigned to High-A Greenville to begin his professional career in 2026.
The 21-year-old right-hander has struggled in many of the first nine starts of his season, posting a 5.55 ERA and allowing batters to reach base at a .370 clip in 35.2 innings pitched.
Command problems have plagued the former first-rounder, as his 5.30 walks per nine innings rank among the worst among all South Atlantic League pitchers with at least 30 innings pitched.
As a result of the slow start, Witherspoon has seen his stock slowly decline among prospect evaluators. After entering the season as Baseball America’s No. 66 prospect, Witherspoon fell to No. 73 in BA’s May update to the Top 100. Now he finds himself on the outside looking in after falling outside of the top 100 enitrely in Wednesday’s June update.
Despite the slow start to his career, Red Sox Senior Director of Player Development Brian Abraham is still confident in the 21-year-old’s ability. “Not everyone's development path their first year, second year, third year is going to be all smooth sailing,” Abraham told WEEI’s Rob Bradford on Sunday’s Baseball Isn’t Boring Show. "Sometimes the results on a field during games aren't always perfect, but I think Kyson put a bunch of things together last outing... I have really high expectations for him in a good way," he continued.
Witherspoon is coming off the two best starts of his short career, allowing just one run on five hits while striking out 10 and walking five across 9.1 innings. According to SoxProspects.com, he is the No. 4 prospect in the Red Sox organization.
In other Red Sox prospect news
With Payton Tolle’s graduation from prospect status, the Red Sox have three players ranked in Baseball America’s June update. Shortstop Franklin Arias continues to skyrocket up the ranks, checking in as the fourth-rated prospect in baseball. Arias is joined by starter Anthony Eyanson (No. 43) and outfielder Justin Gonzales (No. 88).
Back in Boston, the Red Sox will take on the Orioles in game two of a three-game set on Wednesday night. Payton Tolle (2-2, 2.61 ERA) will get the start for Boston opposite Chris Bassitt (4-3, 5.06 ERA) for Baltimore. First pitch from Fenway Park set for 6:45 p.m. ET.
The Red Sox are currently in last place in the American League East.
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