‘The Consistency Has Been The Biggest Factor’: Red Sox Prospect Kyson Witherspoon Showing Why Club Drafted Him 15th Overall In 2025 MLB Draft

For the first time in 30 years and for the third time ever, the Oklahoma Sooners won the College World Series. This comes just one season after ace pitcher Kyson Witherspoon was drafted 15th overall by the Boston Red Sox.

The St. Louis Missouri native had a rough start to his professional career, and most of that can be attributed to walks and home runs. Those were the problem areas for Witherspoon early this season and led to his once robust 7.18 ERA through his first seven starts with High-A Greenville.

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Witherspoon Has Adjusted And Settled In

After some early season growing pains, the righty is finally showing why he was a first-round pick. Through 51 innings pitched, the 21-year-old has allowed 4.76 batters per nine innings to reach base via the walk, the sixth-highest rate among all South Atlantic League pitchers with at least 50 innings of work. Similarly, his 1.24 home runs allowed per nine innings ranks 11th-highest.

Despite the propensity to give up homers, Witherspoon still ranks as one of the more prolific strikeouts pitchers in the highly competitive South Atlantic League with a 24.3 strikeout rate that ranks ninth amongst qualified pitchers.

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Witherspoon On A Tear Last Five Starts

The slow start didn’t deter the supremely talented Witherspoon who’s found that consistency that eluded him to begin the season. In his last five outings he has allowed just eight earned runs on 18 hits in 24.2 innings pitched, good for a 2.92 ERA, also striking out 28 batters while walking 11. That stretch also features the best start of his young career.

In a recent interview with WEII radio, Red Sox Senior Director of Player Personnel Brian Abraham raved about the steadily rising prospect.

“The consistency has been the biggest factor, the stuff has been there, but attacking the strike zone…competing and getting to the guy we drafted is incredibly important.”

Whenever we get players, arms in particular, there’s obviously adjustments and changes that we bring to the table, but I think Kyson is a really good example of not wanting to forget who he is as a pitcher… I think the last couple outings we’ve really seen that,”