The Boston Red Sox have signed right-handed pitcher Morgan McSweeney to a minor league contract, according to a report Monday, just hours before the club was set to open a series against the Toronto Blue Jays in Canada.
Andrew Parker of SoxProspects.com first reported the move.
“The Red Sox have signed RHP Morgan McSweeney to a minor league deal, I’m told. McSweeney, a Hudson, MA native, pitched in the CPBL this season and was a locker room favorite during his time with the Orioles previously.”
McSweeney, 28, grows up in Hudson, Massachusetts, about 30 miles west of Fenway Park. The local connection adds a familiar touch for a pitcher who has bounced around organizations without yet reaching the majors.
The Red Sox selected him in the 17th round of the 2019 MLB Draft. He has yet to make his major league debut despite years of professional experience.
Last season, McSweeney posted a 3-3 record with a 2.31 ERA across 13 Triple-A appearances while pitching in the Miami Marlins organization. Those numbers offered a glimpse of the stuff that once made him a prospect worth developing.
Before that stretch, he spent time in the Baltimore Orioles system, where teammates reportedly viewed him as a positive presence in the clubhouse. That reputation followed him into the Chinese Professional Baseball League this year, where he continued his career overseas.
The signing comes as the Red Sox try to steady themselves after a recent skid. They dropped two of three games to the Athletics at Fenway Park over the weekend, including a 4-3 loss on Sunday that ended a strong stretch of play.
Boston had been among the hottest teams in baseball heading into that series. The results against Oakland served as a reminder that consistency remains a work in progress as the season moves deeper into August.
Attention now shifts north of the border. The Red Sox open a series Monday against the Blue Jays, a matchup that carries early implications in the American League standings.
McSweeney’s addition provides organizational depth rather than an immediate major league roster boost. Minor league deals of this nature often serve as low-risk opportunities for clubs to evaluate experienced arms in Triple-A or lower levels.
At this stage of his career, McSweeney knows the path well. He has moved between organizations, competed overseas and returned stateside looking for another chance to prove himself.
For a Massachusetts native, the opportunity to join the Red Sox system carries extra weight. Many local players speak of the pull of representing the team they grew up watching.
Whether McSweeney eventually forces his way onto the big league radar remains to be seen. His recent Triple-A performance and prior clubhouse standing at least give him a foundation to build on in the organization.
The Red Sox continue to seek pitching help in various forms as they navigate the second half of the schedule. Adding a familiar name on a minor league pact represents one quiet step in that process before facing Toronto.
