Inside The Red Sox

Red Sox Sign Former Yankees 1st-Rounder T.J. Sikkema

This is an interesting spring training add...
Jackson Roberts|
Jul 5, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; New York Yankees caps and gloves sit in the dugout during the game against the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-Imagn Images
Jul 5, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; New York Yankees caps and gloves sit in the dugout during the game against the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-Imagn Images | Caylor Arnold-Imagn Images

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Boston Red SoxNew York Yankees

The Boston Red Sox announced their non-roster invites for spring training on Tuesday, and one name was brand-new to the list.

In addition to minor-league signings that Red Sox on SI has covered, such as infielder Vinny Capra and right-handed pitcher Hobie Harris, the Red Sox announced that left-handed pitcher T.J. Sikkema would be joining them in spring training.

Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald was among those who shared the news of Sikkema's signing via X (formerly Twitter).

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Profiling Red Sox's newest left-hander

Sikkema, 27, was a New York Yankees first-round pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, going 38th overall out of Missouri. He spent just over three years in that organization before he was traded to the Kansas City Royals for outfielder Andrew Benintendi, a name with whom Red Sox fans will be quite familiar.

After a year and a half in the Royals' system, Sikkema was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the minor-league phase of the Rule 5 Draft before the 2024 season. With his third organization, Sikkema split his time between starting and the bullpen and saw a mixed bag of results.

This past season, Sikkema made it to Triple-A for the first time, albeit for only five outings. He pitched to a 4.57 ERA in 86 2/3 total innings, striking out 72 batters, walking 31, and allowing 78 hits.

At his peak, Sikkema ranked 16th on the Yankees' top prospect list from MLB Pipeline back in 2021. He last appeared on a team's top 30 for the Royals in 2023.

Sikkema was also college teammates with Red Sox starting pitcher Tanner Houck, as the two combined for 175 innings in 2017, the year Boston took Houck with their first-round pick. Sikkema was a freshman that year and mostly pitched out of the bullpen.

Many Red Sox fans will root for Sikkema to succeed purely because he didn't work out for the Yankees, and it's that sort of contempt that keeps the rivalry alive. And from Boston's perspective, there's no such thing as too many lefty bullpen options right now.

More MLB: Red Sox's $38.5M Veteran Predicted To Leave Boston In Favor Of Angels

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Jackson Roberts
JACKSON ROBERTS

Jackson Roberts is a former Division III All-Region DH who now writes and talks about sports for a living. A Bay Area native and a graduate of Swarthmore College and the Newhouse School at Syracuse University, Jackson makes his home in North Jersey. He grew up rooting for the Red Sox, Patriots, and Warriors, and he recently added the Devils to his sports fandom mosaic. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding Boston Red Sox On SI, please reach out to Scott Neville: scott@wtfsports.org

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