Boston Red Sox' Highly-Regarded Prospect is Youngest Pitcher in All of High-A

Juan Valera, who is ranked as the team's No. 18 prospect by MLB Pipeline, is headed to High-A Greenville.

Mar 15, 2019; Tampa, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox hat and glove lay in the dugout at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-Imagn Images | Kim Klement-Imagn Images

The rest of the Minor League Baseball season begins on Friday as Double-A, High-A and Low-A teams across the country get into action. For the Boston Red Sox, the High-A Greenville Drive will be playing at home against the Bowling Green Hot Rods, who are the affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays.

And per Chris Clegg, the Drive feature a very interesting roster note:

Red Sox prospect Juan Valera will be in A+ Greenville to start the 2025 season. At 18 years and 10 months he’s the youngest pitcher assigned to High-A & 2nd youngest overall behind De Vries. The only younger pitcher in Full season ball is Keeler Morfe in Delmarva(2 weeks younger)

Red Sox prospect Juan Valera will be in A+ Greenville to start the 2025 season. At 18 years and 10 months he’s the youngest pitcher assigned to High-A & 2nd youngest overall behind De Vries. The only younger pitcher in Full season ball is Keeler Morfe in Delmarva(2 weeks younger)

— Chris Clegg (@ChrisCleggMiLB) April 3, 2025

Valera was signed by the Red Sox in 2023 and has played affiliated ball in each of the last two seasons. He went 3-1 with a 5.93 ERA at the Red Sox DSL affiliate in 2023 and then went 1-3 with a 1.99 ERA in 2024. He spent time with the Florida Complex League and the low-A Salem Red Sox, striking out 68 batters in 63.1 innings. He is ranked as the No. 18 prospect in the organization, per MLB Pipeline.

The following comes from a portion of his MLB.com prospect profile:

At age 18 last year, Valera operated with a 93-96 mph fastball that peaked at 99, usually working with downhill plane but occasionally showing some interesting carry. He gets better action on his sweeping 82-85 mph slider and can turn it into a tighter cutter that climbs into the upper 80s. He's in the early stages of developing feel for his fading upper-80s changeup, struggling to throw it for strikes or create enough separation from his heater.

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