The Boston Red Sox have had a very tumultuous beginning to the 2026 MLB season. The club fired longtime manager Alex Cora following a (10-17) start. In his place they promoted Chad Tracy manager of the club’s Triple-A affiliate Worcester.

Under Tracy the Red Sox have shown marked improvements across the board and their overall attention to detail has also seemingly picked up. The firing of Cora also meant the club may be more willing to move of some of their young talent in their farm system led by pitcher Kyson Witherspoon the 15th overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft.

Witherspoon’s College Coach Thinks The World Of Him

In the aftermath of Witherspoon being taken in the first round of the draft out of Oklahoma, Sooners skipper Skip Johnson has raved continuously about his former star pupil.

Speaking with NBC Sports Boston recently, Johnson mentioned that he was very happy to see Witherspoon end up Beantown. He even called it an ideal landing spot for him.

“I was excited for him. I thought he would go earlier, and that’s OK. He’s in a great place. Boston’s always good. I mean, the organization’s always been good.

“I had (Brandon) Workman (at Texas), he was a (Minor League) Pitcher of the Year, two World Series rings with them. So I mean, nothing but good things to say about that organization and how they go about their business, how they develop pitchers for sure.”

“I think he’s a culture changer,” Johnson said of Witherspoon. “He’s really professional in what he does. He’s a good teammate.

“An example I can use, I had a young kid, a freshman that I was working with, kind of shortening up his arm stroke in the bullpen. He throws his bullpen, the kid goes over there. We have a wall that they work out on, it’s a big cement wall next to our player development area. Kyson goes over there on his own and kind of started working with him. He didn’t have to do that. It was just, that’s who he is. He’s willing to help, he’s willing to do those things. It shows you what kind of character he’s made of.”

Strong words by Witherspoon’s former manager… with whom he shares a very special bond with.

Johnson Says Witherspoon Oozes High Character 

In calling Witherspoon a true professional, he also said this…

“Well, one thing is he’s a good person. And whatever organization he’s with, he’s got a lot of pride in that, and he cares extremely a lot. I think that’s one thing that they can rest assured he’s gonna give them everything he’s got every time he walks out there. Sometimes it’s not perfect, but a lot of times it is.

“He’s a professional, a true professional. He’s gonna take care of his business. He’s really good off the field. I mean, he’s got that kind of pride. He’s got that Boston pride that people talk about. Like, I can remember the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings) and David Ortiz, he’s like that. He’s about that, and he’s cut from that cloth. I think that’s what’s really unique about Kyson, more so than anything. Not only is he a good person and a good player and really good at what he does, but he cares a lot and he’s gonna give you everything he’s got.”

Witherspoon Put Up Great Numbers In Norman Doing Great In Minor League As Well

Witherspoon posted a 2.65 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with 124 strikeouts and just 23 walks over 16 starts (95 innings) for the Sooners last season to solidify himself as arguably the best right-hander in his draft class.

Witherspoon has brought that same workmanlike approach to the majors and High-A Greenville where the club’s No.4 prospect has been as advertised.  That should expedite his call to the majors which could come as early as late this summer.