Article: Red Sox 2024 Offseason Top Prospects: #9, Richard Fitts

[Alex Mayes]

Welcome back to Talk Sox’s 2024 top 20 prospect rundown! After breaking down number 10, we're on to number nine! That spot is held by our favorite late-season call-up, Richard Fitts. These top prospects were voted on and compiled by the Talk Sox community. 

#9 RHP Richard Fitts ( Worcester Red Sox, Boston Red Sox)

Richard Fitts came over to the Red Sox in the December trade that sent Alex Verdugo to the New York Yankees. There was some debate amongst fans about whether he would break camp with the big club after the injury to Lucas Giolito, but the team decided that he should spend the bulk of the season at triple-A Worcester. Fitts went 9-5 with a 4.17 ERA and 4.86 FIP in Worcester. The Red Sox added him to the 40-man roster on September 8 and he made his first big-league start that same day, striking out two over 5 2/3 innings and allowing six hits, one walk, and two unearned runs. He would continue to pitch much the same way through the end of the season, going 18 2/3 innings before allowing an earned run. He finished 0-1 despite running a 1.74 ERA over four starts and 20 2/3 innings. His FIP was a more reasonable 3.31, thanks to the fact that he didn't allow a single home run.

Fitts features a four-pitch mix: a four-seam fastball that averages 94.5 mph and tops out at 97, a sweeper, a tighter slider, and a splitter. None of his pitches will dazzle you; they grade out as fairly average, although Stuff+ gives his slider-sweeper combo an excellent 132. Fitts ran extremely low whiff rates during his time with the Red Sox, but the fastball can play up above the zone.

When used in conjunction with his sweeper, he has shown the capacity to miss bats in two directions to keep hitters off balance and on their toes.

Despite those two examples, Fitts ran an extremely low 15% whiff rate and struck out just 3.9 batters per nine innings in Boston, compared to the 8.6 K/9 he ran against lesser competition in Worcester. Fitts' big-league sample size was very small, and his lack of swing-and-miss needs to be fixed this offseason. He won't be able to avoid the long ball indefinitely, especially as a fly-ball pitcher in Fenway Park. However, if 2024 was any indication of what's to come, Fitts looks like the kind of pitcher who can slot into the back end of a rotation without issue. His ceiling is a number three starter, but you'd feel comfortable seeing him take the mound every five days.

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[smokedogg1982]

Great to see a fellow Alabama native playing for my favorite team. I hope he has a great season in 2025

[mvp 78]

Back end starter that provides value due to his cheap cost for the next 6 years. Could be dealt this offseason because of that value. 

[WestestWorcester]

Enjoyed seeing him in Worcester, and he looked good in Boston too.

[Brock Beauchamp]

40 minutes ago, WestestWorcester said:

Enjoyed seeing him in Worcester, and he looked good in Boston too.

Welcome to Talk Sox!

[Larry Cook]

6 hours ago, smokedogg1982 said:

Great to see a fellow Alabama native playing for my favorite team. I hope he has a great season in 2025

Dude, I live in Alabama as well!!! I am in Trussville. Where are you ? 

[moonslav59]

I loved the Dugo trade, and I'm hopeful Fitts fills a role we need: an innings eating decent SP'er.

[smokedogg1982]

9 hours ago, Larry Cook said:

Dude, I live in Alabama as well!!! I am in Trussville. Where are you ? 

Right on the Mississippi state line 40mi from Tupelo