Boston Red Sox Minor League Pitchers of the Month: August 2026

For the Boston Red Sox, developing pitching has become easier following the implementation of Craig Breslow’s philosophy for the pitching lab. In August, the fruits of those labors really shone through, as several pitchers across the entire system put together great months, some making fans wonder if a promotion for the last few weeks could be in play.

Thanks to their performances on the mound, it’s made the loss of Anthony Eyanson and Kyson Witherspoon a little easier to swallow. We’ve narrowed this award down to the four best pitchers in the Boston Red Sox minor-league system from last month, though there were many more worthy candidates out there.

Ranking Red Sox’s Best Minor-League Pitchers in August

Honorable Mention: Ethan Walker LHP (Low-A Salem)

It was tough making Walker the honorable mention, especially after his performance in August. That just shows how great the pitching across the system was.

Walker put together a fantastic month for his hometown Salem RidgeYaks. Appearing in four games, one of them a start, he gave the team 15 innings of quality pitching as he surrendered four runs, two of them earned, on just six hits and five walks. In that same span he struck out 21 batters. It was a positive turn around for Walker after coming off a July where he allowed six earned runs in 11 2/3 innings pitched.

The left-hander has said he considers himself a strikeout-first pitcher, and he certainly lived up to that reputation. For the month, he had a strikeout per nine innings of 12.6, the highest of his career for any month where he made more than one appearance.

Health and consistency will be key for the left-hander to take the next step in his career after bringing his season to an end on a high note.

#3: Hobie Harris RHP (Triple-A Worcester)

A reliever, Harris came up huge for Worcester during August as constant roster changes with their pitching staff left holes that needed to be filled. After missing time earlier in the season due to injury, he's firmly put himself back on the 2027 radar.

Making 10 appearances out of the bullpen, Harris served multiple roles whether it was being used for multiple innings or coming in during tight situations he performed his duty. Tossing 15 1/3 innings, he allowed just two runs, one of them earned, on nine hits and three walks. Most impressively for Harris was his ability to rack up strikeouts, getting 18 of them during the month.

His 15 1/3 innings finished fifth on the team while his 0.59 ERA and 0.78 WHIP were first and second on the team, respectively, among qualified pitchers.

#2: Hayden Mullins LHP (Double-A Portland)

Mullins needed a month like August after an especially rough stretch of performances. The left-hander helped carry a Portland rotation that had lost four starting pitchers due to promotions to Worcester along with Eyanson. His outings throughout the month reminded people of how he looked in 2025 when there were talks of potentially being a top pitching prospect in the system and at risk of being taken in the Rule 5 Draft.

Making four starts, Mullins gave Portland 20 1/3 innings while allowing six runs, just three earned, on 18 hits and eight walks. But more importantly, he showed an improved confidence in his stuff to garner strikeouts like in 2025, getting batters out by the way of the K 29 times. Naturally, that number led Portland for the month.

Mullins is at his best when he attacks the strike zone consistently, allowing himself to then expand to the corners and try to get some chase from opposing batters. Thanks to his improved control in August, he was able to do that and flash some of his laden potential.

#1: Dylan Brown LHP (High-A Greenville)

If there’s been any prospect that has gone on a huge run this season, it’s been Brown. August was just the exclamation point on his breakout campaign, as he gave Greenville five huge starts and 23 2/3 innings. That number also includes two rain-shortened starts; in both outings, he allowed just one hit in three innings. For the entire month, Brown allowed eight runs, seven of them earned, on 16 hits (two of which were home runs) and four walks. In that same span he struck out 31 batters while keeping opponents to just a .186 batting average.

The left-hander bookended August with starts of 6 1/3 innings, getting the win in both. His August 27 start was his best in some time, and it could be argued that it was his second-best with Greenville, only beaten by his June 24 start where he delivered seven shutout innings. In this more recent outing, he allowed one run on two hits and a walk while striking out five.

Brown stepped up as the ace of Greenville after promotions and injuries left the rotation scrambling to fill in innings. Now, he looks ready to potentially open 2027 in Portland.

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