Red Sox Promote 29-Year-Old Rookie for Blue Jays Series

The Boston Red Sox are bringing up another hurler for the Toronto Blue Jays series.

Jul 17, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Alec Gamboa (68) pitches during the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Boston Red Sox are bringing an intriguing rookie back up to the big leagues.

On Wednesday, Tommy Cassell of the Worcester T&G Sports reported that lefty Alec Gamboa is coming back up to the majors.

"Hearing Alec Gamboa is being called up to join the Boston Red Sox," Cassell wrote. "The 29-year-old lefty last pitched on Aug. 7 for the WooSox — and last pitched for the Boston Red Sox on July 25.

"Gamboa recently told me 'It would be an awesome opportunity. Anytime you get called up to the big leagues, it's a great thing. So just kind of staying ready, just in case it does happen (and) if it doesn't, then, oh well.'"

The Red Sox Are Bringing Up The Lefty

Feb 17, 2026; Lee County, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Alec Gamboa (68) poses for a photo during media day at JetBlue Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Gamboa has looked steady in the majors for Boston in his first taste of Major League Baseball action. The 29-year-old has made seven appearances so far for the Red Sox and has a 2.08 ERA and a 12-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 13 innings pitched. He's been good down in Triple-A as well. Gamboa has pitched in 17 games down in Triple-A, including eight starts, and has a 3.68 ERA and a 47-to-13 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 51 1/3 innings pitched.

Gamboa has had a disjointed path to the majors. He was selected in the ninth round of the 2019 Major League Baseball Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers and was in their system through the 2025 season. He made it up to Triple-A all the way back in 2023 in the Dodgers' system, but wasn't able to make it over the hump to the majors between the 2023 and 2025 seasons.

In 2025, he made just eight appearances in the Dodgers' farm system and joined the Lotte Giants in the KBO League. In the KBO League, Gamboa made 19 starts and logged a 3.58 ERA. He was solid with Lotte, and that's why the Red Sox took a chance on him this past offseason.

Now, he's coming back up to the majors. It may not be for a long time, but he can help this club in the short term. Right now, Greg Weissert is down in the minors after being optioned to Triple-A after the 13-inning marathon against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday. Soon enough, he'll be back up in the majors. At that point, the easy option would be sending Gamboa back down.

While this is the case, the lefty is joining the big league club, for now.