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Red Sox prospect could be next ‘Fitzy’ type of fan favorite whether in Worcester or Boston
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- Red Sox prospect could be next ‘Fitzy’ type of fan favorite whether in Worcester or Boston
Ryan Fitzgerald's hustle, personality and mullet made him a fan favorite among WooSox fans when he played for Triple-A Worcester from 2021-23.
He was so popular that he became the first ever player in Minor League Baseball with a clothing line . Meanwhile, Mayor Joe Petty even presented him with a key to the city and Fitzgerald returned to Worcester for a final farewell in January 2024 — after the Royals had selected him in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 Draft in December 2023.
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Nobody else will probably ever be that popular among Worcester fans. But Braiden Ward has a chance to become a similar fan favorite.
The 27-year-old outfielder is competing for a spot on the Red Sox ' Opening Day roster.
He certainly has shown during spring training he can contribute in the majors this season. He is batting .448 (13-for-29) with a .543 on-base percentage, one double, four RBIs, 10 runs and 16 stolen bases in 15 Grapefruit League games.
But he's not on the 40-man roster yet, and he's also a left-handed hitting outfielder, one area where the Red Sox have a surplus. SoxProspects.com projects him to begin the season at Worcester's left fielder.
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Boston acquired Ward from the Rockies for left-handed reliever Brennan Bernardino on Nov. 18.
His speed is electric. His 16 steals are nine more than anyone else has in major league spring training.
He was successful on 57 of 64 stolen base attempts in 2025 across 97 games for Double-A Hartford and Triple-A Albuquerque last season.
That speed along with his hustle, playing with a smile ("That's something I like to do," he said) and outgoing personality should endear him to fans whether it's in Worcester or Boston. Ward has a similar toughness to Fitzgerald who played through a broken foot in 2022 .
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The outfielder said he's ready to show Red Sox fans what he can do.
"Because every day I can't promise success, but I can promise I play with my hair on fire," Ward said last month. "I'm always gonna go 110%. I feel like I play a little bit like (Jarren) Duran in that aspect where there's no days off. Yeah, I'm going for it."
Guerrero reaches 101.2 mph
Red Sox non-roster invitee Tayron Guerrero threw six fastballs 100 mph or harder in his scoreless inning Monday.
He threw pitches at speeds of 101.2 mph, 101.1 mph, 100.6 mph, 100.6 mph, 100.2 mph and 100.0 mph.
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Guerrero likely will begin the season at Worcester but is definitely someone with an elite fastball who could help at some point this season. His perceived four-seam fastball velocity has been on average 1.6 mph faster than his average four-seam fastball velocity.
Could Wong start season in Worcester?
Connor Wong has one minor league option remaining. The Red Sox could begin the season with Wong at Worcester and Matt Thaiss as Carlos Narváez 's backup catcher.
In that scenario, the Red Sox would need to add Thaiss to their 40-man roster as he's here in camp on a minor league deal.
Thaiss will earn $1.3 million if he makes the team and has an upward mobility clause — which allows him to opt out of his minor league contract if there's a roster spot elsewhere — five days before Opening Day.
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MassLive's Sean McAdam wrote about the catcher competition Sunday .
Cheng hitting well in WBC
Tsung-Che Cheng , who's expected to begin the 2026 season at Triple-A Worcester, has performed nicely for Chinese Taipei in the World Baseball Classic. He's 3-for-9 (.333) with a .571 on-base percentage, one home run, two RBIs, four runs, four steals, five walks and one strikeout in four games.
Gonzales has third best exit velocity during spring training
Red Sox prospect Justin Gonzales' 117.3 mph exit velocity on a single March 2 is the third hardest hit ball in play during spring training.
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Here are top exit velocities this spring:
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Royals' Jac Caglianone 120.2 mph double Feb. 26
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Reds' Rece Hinds 119.6 mph home run March 9
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Red Sox' Justin Gonzales 117.3 mph single March 2
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Cardinals' Jordan Walker 117.2 mph single Feb. 28
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Mariners ' Brennen Davis 116.7 mph home run March 6
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Royals' Jac Caglianone 116.5 mph double Feb. 28
Castro enjoying productive spring training
Allan Castro is 8-for-26 (.308) with a .379 on-base percentage, .462 slugging percentage, .841 OPS, one home run, one double, six RBIs, five runs, three walks, four strikeouts and two stolen bases in 14 Grapefruit League games.
The 22-year-old from the Dominican Republic is in his first big league camp as a non-roster invitee. He batted .268 with a .353 on-base percentage, .400 slugging percentage and .753 OPS in 92 games at Double-A Portland last year.
Baseball America ranks him Boston's No. 26 prospect.
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