With the minor league season well in the rearview mirror, it’s time to recognize the best relief pitchers within the Red Sox’s organization. Over the last six months, players performed in hopes of showcasing their talents and possibly getting promoted to the next level on their way to the major leagues.
Given the manner that developing pitchers are utilized (some starting and coming out of the bullpen or even a starter being a piggyback guy for a rehab appearance), the only qualification to be eligible for the award is that the majority of their appearances had to be out of the bullpen. So, say a pitcher appeared in 25 games and made 14 starts—they would not be eligible for this award.
Without that cleared up, let’s recognize the three best minor league relievers in the Red Sox’s organization this season.
#3) RHP Yovanny Cruz (Portland): 34 games, 2 wins, 3.03 ERA, 6 saves, 59 1/3 innings, 72 strikeouts
Cruz rebounded in impressive fashion after his last attempt at Double-A. In 2024, he spent the season with Double-A San Antonio in the San Diego Padres’ organization and struggled to the tune of a 4.55 ERA in just 23 games. After becoming a free agent, he signed a minor league contract with the Red Sox and spent all but the final week of the season with Portland. In that final week, he was promoted to Worcester but did not pitch in a game.
In 34 games with Portland this year, Cruz tossed 59 1/3 innings and was on the mound for the final inning in 22 of those appearances, as he earned six saves. While Cruz was good for 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings, he unfortunately walked 44 batters as well. Fortunately for Cruz, many of them did not come around to score.
Cruz threw three different pitches, led by a fastball that topped out at 100 mph, though he still lacks command with his signature offering. In addition, he features a breaking ball that sometimes appears like multiple types of pitches given its spin rate, and a changeup that he rarely used. Should Cruz be able to throw strikes more consistently, he could put himself on the MLB radar as soon as next year.
#2) RHP Cooper Adams (Greenville/Portland): 31 games, 4 wins, 2.73 ERA, 69 1/3 innings, 80 strikeouts
Adams ended up having an interesting season in the minors in 2025, thanks in part to a fantastic showing with Double-A Portland. Spending most of his season with High-A Greenville, Adams didn’t really do much besides strike out a lot of batters. Now 25 years old, he had a 3.95 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP while allowing nearly nine hits per nine innings in High-A. However, in those 43 1/3 innings he pitched, he managed to strike out 55 batters for a strikeout per nine innings of 11.4.
Promoted to Double-A Portland in the middle of July, Adams seemed to flip a switch, as he looked like a completely different pitcher. Tossing at least two innings in each appearance, Adams would go on to finish his time with Portland with a 0.69 ERA in 26 innings across 10 appearances. His strikeouts did dip however, down to a strikeout per nine innings of 8.7.
Adams, an undrafted free agent, has four pitches: his fastball which can reach 98 mph, a slider with inconsistent shape, a curveball with an 11-to-5 attack angle, and his changeup that he has confidence in. Overall, Adams is off the prospect radar due to his age and role, though he proved in 2025 that he shouldn’t be counted out just yet. He did get promoted to Worcester following the end of Portland’s season, though he failed to get into a game.
#1) RHP Isaac Stebens (Greenville): 38 games, 6 wins, 2.15 ERA, 9 saves, 50 1/3 innings, 59 strikeouts
Stebens, a 16th-round pick in 2023 out of Oklahoma State University, put together the best season for a reliever in the Red Sox’s organization this year. After pitching in 29 games for Greenville in 2024, Stebens reported back to High-A for the 2025 season where he more or less became the unofficial closer, leading the team with nine saves. He ended up being the final pitcher on the mound for Greenville in 31 of his 38 appearances, showcasing the trust that the Drive had in him for late-game situations.
With a strikeout per nine of 10.5, Stebens showed an ability to generate strikeouts when needed, thanks in part to his arsenal of pitches made up of a fastball that can top out at 95 mph, a sweeper that he can land in the zone with consistency, and his developing changeup, which is his weakest pitch at present.
Currently, Stebens has shown bat-missing ability with his fastball and sweeper that could make him a useful organizational arm or even an emergency call-up, but should he develop better command, he could end up being a valuable relief prospect thanks to his deceptive delivery. Next up for Stebens is participating in the Arizona Fall League.
What do you think? Do you agree with the choices, or do you feel someone got snubbed? Leave your thoughts below in the comments!