The Boston Red Sox have made a significant move involving one of their most intriguing young pitching prospects, promoting 22-year-old right-hander Jedixson Paez to Triple-A Worcester.
The promotion marks another important step in Paez’s development as he continues to establish himself as one of the top arms in Boston’s farm system. Known for his impressive command and ability to consistently attack the strike zone, Paez has quickly climbed the organization’s prospect rankings and is now closer to reaching the major leagues.
The Red Sox’s decision comes just eight months after the organization left Paez unprotected in the Rule 5 Draft. The Chicago White Sox selected him with the second overall pick and carried him on their Opening Day roster before returning him to Boston in April.
Jedixson Paez Earns Promotion to Triple-A
Boston officially confirmed Paez’s move to Worcester following a dominant stretch at Double-A Portland. The right-hander originally signed with the Red Sox as an international free agent out of Tinaquillo, Venezuela, in January 2021, receiving a $450,000 signing bonus.
Paez quickly became one of the organization’s notable international pitching prospects, earning Boston’s Latin Program Pitcher of the Year award after his debut season in the Dominican Summer League.
Standing 6-foot-1, Paez features an unusual low three-quarters delivery that helps disguise his pitches and makes it difficult for hitters to pick up the ball. While his fastball typically sits in the upper 80s to low 90s and reaches the mid-90s, his success comes from his advanced secondary pitches.
His changeup is considered his best offering, while his slider and curveball give him multiple weapons to keep hitters off balance.
Across 307 2/3 career minor league innings, Paez owns a 3.22 ERA while showing exceptional control. After missing significant time in 2025 because of a severe right calf strain, he returned strong and carried that momentum into the 2026 season.
During his time with Portland, Paez posted impressive numbers, throwing 49 innings while striking out 56 batters and issuing only five walks.
The strong performance helped him rise to No. 15 on the Red Sox prospect rankings, with evaluators praising his command and ability to consistently execute his pitches.
Rule 5 Draft Decision Quickly Backfired for White Sox
Paez’s journey took an unexpected turn last offseason when Boston opted not to protect him on the 40-man roster, leaving him available in the Rule 5 Draft.
The White Sox selected him with the second overall pick and immediately placed him on their major league roster. However, the experiment did not last long.
Paez appeared in three games for Chicago, surrendering six earned runs and two home runs over three innings without recording a strikeout. His struggles resulted in an 18.00 ERA before the White Sox designated him for assignment.
After clearing waivers, Paez returned to Boston when the Red Sox paid the required $50,000 Rule 5 return fee.
Despite the rough MLB debut, the organization never lost confidence in his long-term potential.
Prospect evaluators have continued to highlight Paez’s elite control and feel for his secondary pitches. While his limited fastball velocity may prevent him from becoming a traditional frontline starter, scouts believe he has the potential to develop into a reliable back-end starter or a valuable multi-inning bullpen weapon.
Worcester Opportunity Could Put Paez on MLB Path
Now with Triple-A Worcester, Paez will have an opportunity to prove he is ready for the next challenge.
If he continues to dominate hitters while maintaining his elite strike-throwing ability, the earlier Rule 5 setback could eventually become nothing more than a minor detour in his path toward the majors.
For Boston, Paez’s development represents another promising sign for a farm system that continues to produce talented young pitching.