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Even before Red Sox traded for 6-6, 275-pounder, he was working out at Aroldis Chapman’s house
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- Even before Red Sox traded for 6-6, 275-pounder, he was working out at Aroldis Chapman’s house
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Two Red Sox teammates worked out together this offseason before they even became Red Sox teammates.
New starter Johan Oviedo split his time training between Cressey Sports Performance in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., and closer Aroldis Chapman ’s home.
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“He has a place at his house. His gym is huge and amazing,” Oviedo said Thursday at JetBlue Park.
The Red Sox acquired the 6-foot-6, 275-pound Oviedo from the Pirates on Dec. 4 . He had already been training at the 6-foot-4, 235-pound Chapman’s house before the trade happened. The two Cubans first met when Chapman pitched for the Yankees. They kept in contact and became closer when Chapman spent the 2024 season pitching for the Pirates.
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This offseason marked the first time that they trained together at Chapman’s house.
“It’s probably the hardest I’ve ever worked in my life,” Oviedo said. “He’s a monster.”
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Chapman’s 2025 season has been a source of motivation for Oviedo, who has a nasty fastball that averaged 95.5 mph last year but has struggled with command. Oviedo has a high career 11% walk percentage.
Chapman has an even higher career 12.2% walk percentage. But he had the best command of his life as a 37-year-old for the Red Sox in 2025, walking just 6.6% of the batters that he faced.
“The walks have been the thing I have to get better at. So main goal this year is like Chappy did last year — 70-something percent of first-pitch strikes," Oviedo said. “And at 37, to have his best season ever, it’s a big (inspiration) to myself that it’s never too late. ... So just trying to keep improving fastball command.”
Oviedo is competing for the fifth spot in the Red Sox starting rotation against Kutter Crawford , Patrick Sandoval , Payton Tolle and Connelly Early.
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“My mindset is always about competing,” Oviedo said. “It’s not about the fifth spot. It’s just about competing because that’s who I am. Competing, it’s kind of the way I can take the best out of myself.
“I’ll let them decide what they want to do for me,” he added. “It’s just competing against myself.”
The humongous Oviedo fits right in with Boston ’s staff. He’s one of nine Red Sox pitchers on the 40-man roster who’s 6-foot-4 or taller.
“It’s amazing seeing how many strong and big people are on the team,” he said.
| Red Sox pitcher |
Height |
Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 6-6 |
275 pounds |
|
| 6-6 |
245 pounds |
|
| Jake Bennett |
6-6 |
234 pounds |
| Payton Tolle |
6-6 |
250 pounds |
| Ryan Watson |
6-5 |
225 pounds |
| 6-5 |
222 pounds |
|
| Aroldis Chapman |
6-4 |
235 pounds |
| 6-4 |
205 pounds |
|
| 6-4 |
222 pounds |
Oviedo is the biggest member of a big family.
“My dad is like 6-2, something like that. My mom is huge,” he said. “I feel like I kind of got that from her. She’s like 5-11 I think but she’s like big and wide and huge legs. She’s a monster of (a) woman.”
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Oviedo has enjoyed his time here at camp. He said he feels amazing and everyone has made him feel welcome.
“The whole system is really organized. It has purpose,” he said. “So it’s been amazing. I feel really comfortable about being here. It doesn’t feel like a new team.”
He posted a 3.57 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 42 strikeouts and 23 walks in 40 ⅓ innings for the Pirates in 2025.
He missed the entire 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in December 2023. A right lat strain also delayed his return in 2025.
He has a 4.24 ERA in 81 career major league outings (67 starts).
He said he’s working to be the “best version” of himself.
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“Just making sure everything is on command,” he said. “Every pitch.”
THE PURPLE GLOVE
Oviedo has been wearing a purple glove during his bullpens here in camp.
“That was kind of my BP glove from last year,” Oviedo said.
He said every other glove he has right now has a Pirates logo on it.
“So that wouldn’t be a good idea,” he joked.
He doesn’t plan on using the purple glove during games but he hasn’t ruled it out. He said he likely will wear either a red or camel-colored glove.
Why did he have Rawlings send him a purple glove?
“Just because I love purple,” he said, smiling. “I don’t know. It’s something different.”
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