The Red Sox coach has established new guidelines that players and fans will hopefully follow, which is good news.
On February 9, Cy Young winner and former pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, Corey Kluber, announced his retirement. Although Kluber’s final season in the league wasn’t the most memorable, there is no denying his status as one of the best pitchers of his generation.
The pitcher announced his retirement from baseball publicly on Instagram with a tearful post. After expressing gratitude to each team he had played for, Kluber said he hoped to play baseball elsewhere in the future.
During his 13-year playing career, Kluber was primarily based in Cleveland, where he was awarded two American League Cy Young awards in 2014 and 2017. The latter year was the pinnacle of his career; with 18 wins, a 2.25 ERA, a 7.35 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and five complete games pitched—three of which were shutouts—Kluber led the MLB.
Kluber spent every season playing for a different team after departing Cleveland in 2020. After stints with the Rangers, Yankees, Rays, and finally the Red Sox, he concluded his remarkable career as a pitcher there.
Corey Kluber, a former pitcher for the Red Sox, announces his retirement.
Corey Kluber, who has played in 13 seasons, three All-Star Games, and won two Cy Young Awards, has announced his retirement. tweet.com/MZt1YcZZs0
February 9, 2024, MLB (@MLB)
Boston makes plans to pay tribute to Tim Wakefield
Speaking of well-known pitchers, the Red Sox will pay tribute to team legend Tim Wakefield in a number of ways during the upcoming campaign. Wakefield passed away on October 1, 2023, following complications from brain cancer.
Wakefield will be honored by Boston on April 12 with a Red Sox Foundation game, as the knuckleballer was named honorary chairman of the organization in 2013. A portion of the ticket sales revenue will be donated to the Red Sox Foundation. Additionally, fans can purchase a special ticket to be eligible to receive a Wakefield No. 49 hat.
On April 12, the Red Sox will also host a “Red Sox Foundation Game” in honor of Tim Wakefield. A portion of the ticket sales will go toward supporting the Red Sox Foundation. tweet.com/kCu4LA5npE
February 9, 2024, Boston Strong (@BostonStrong_34)
Not only was Wakefield one of the heroes of the 2007 World Series campaign and a formidable knuckleball pitcher, but he was also well-known for his charitable giving. Wakefield was active in numerous charitable organizations and was nominated for the Red Sox’s Roberto Clemente Award eight times.
The Athletic lists MLB’s top 10 farm systems for the Red Sox.
The Red Sox farm system is ranked eighth in the league by Keith Law of The Athletic. Boston leapt fifteen spots from the previous season, when Law placed the Sox’s MLB prospect pool at number twenty-third.
Law attributed Boston’s ranking to its 2023 draft and a few of its highly touted prospects. The Sox selected prospect catcher Kyle Teel with the 14th overall pick; many analysts feel Teel should have been selected sooner.
Law acknowledged Marcelo Mayer’s injury struggles, but he still credited Mayer’s season-long play and Roman Anthony’s growth as the primary drivers of the Red Sox’s ascent through the ranks.
