Red Sox Need to Pay Attention to 6-foot-9 Local Boy Before MLB Draft

What a draft story this would be for the Boston area

May 18, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; A Boston Red Sox hat and glove rests on the railing by the dugout prior to a game against the Atlanta Braves at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images | Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

Boston Red Sox fans haven't had a local product to root for in quite some time. The Manny Delcarmens, Rich Hills, and Luis Guerreros of the world couldn't quite scratch the itch.

That's why, with the draft still a few months away, Boston fans should have their eyes on one prospect in particular, especially those located in Massachusetts.

That draft prospect is 6-foot-9 left-handed pitcher Brody Bumila of Attleboro's Bishop Feehan High School, who was profiled by Matt Porter of The Boston Globe on Thursday.

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Red Sox could break draft mold for Bumila

Jun 14, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; A flag is dropped from the center field wall as part of pregame ceremonies prior to a game between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images | Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

Bumila is 18, so it's obviously impossible to project what sort of success he'll have one day as a professional. But the upside seems to be positively immense, and he's an intriguing fit for the Red Sox in particular for a few reasons.

One, the Boston pitching pipeline has improved a lot over the past few years, but last year's draft class was heavy on right-handers from the college ranks. Bringing in a high school lefty, especially one who can top 100 mph as a teenager, would be an interesting change of pace.

Of note, Craig Breslow has not yet drafted a high school pitcher in his two years as chief baseball officer. But he has shown a preference for big-bodied pitchers with elite extension, and one would have to imagine the 6-foot-9, 250-pound Bumila checks a lot of boxes there.

Per Porter, the Red Sox are "well aware" of Bumila's prospect status, and as most kids who grow up in Massachusetts are, Bumila is a lifelong fan of the team. But that might only slightly increase the odds that he goes to them in the draft as opposed to one of the 29 other teams.

Plus, Bumila is committed to the University of Texas, and it might not be easy to pry him away from that commitment. He missed all of last year after undergoing internal brace surgery, so someone would have to make a decision that he's worth signing at all costs after a relatively limited sample.

So while it's far from guaranteed to happen, the Red Sox should at least keep in mind how cool it would be to have a larger-than-life, true homegrown superstar pitcher as they think about their draft strategy this year.