Richard Fitts #65

Graduated from Helena (Ala.) High School. Rated as the No. 27 player in Alabama by Perfect game in 2018...Member of the 2017 AHSAA 6A State Championship team which finished No.1 in a national poll...Was president of the Student Government Association at Helena High School...Played college baseball at Auburn University where he was on the Golden Spikes Watch List to begin 2021. Member of the 2019 Auburn squad that reached the College World Series. Made two relief appearances in Omaha pitching a team-high total of 5.1 innings...His brother, Trevor, played college baseball at Mississippi State (2012-15) and is currently an assistant coach at Austin Peay State. Trevor was also a graduate assistant coach at South Alabama where he coached former Cardinal Brendan Donovan...Resides in Helena, Alabama.

2025

Made the Red Sox Opening Day roster and pitched a career-high 6.0 innings in his first start at TEX (3/30) allowing three runs in a quality start as the Red Sox lost, 3-2...Missed 70 games while on the Injured List, first from 4/13- 5/6 with a strained right pectoral and 8/26-end of the season with right arm neuritis...Earned his first Major League win vs. COL (July 7) in his 12th career MLB start, a 9-3 win, tossing 5.2 innings allowing just three runs (two earned). Posted a 3.31 ERA through his first 12 career MLB starts...Was optioned the following day to add an extra pitcher heading into the All-Star Break...Held the opposition to three runs or less in 8-of-10 starts with two quality starts...Surrendered a career-high three home runs (Zach Neto, Mike Trout, Jo Adell) vs. LAA (6/2) in his shortest start of the season lasting one inning as the Red Sox lost to the Angels 7-6 despite rallying from the six-run first inning...Struck out a career-high six batters three times (6/25 at LAA; 7/7 vs. COL & 8/25 at BAL)...Made his first career Major League relief appearance at BAL (Aug. 25), as lefty reliever Brennan Bernardino started as the "Opener". Became his final appearance of the season, landing on the Injured List the next day. Pitched 4.0 innings striking out six batters, matching his season-high, for the win.

2024

Made his MLB debut, splitting the season between Triple-A Worcester (24 G/23 GS) and BOS (4 GS). Threw 5.0+ innings in each of his four starts for BOS... Allowed 0 ER in his first 18.2 IP, the longest streak by a Red Sox pitcher to begin a career in the Expansion Era. Of 69 batted balls against him in the Majors, only one was barreled. Was named Worcester’s Most Valuable Pitcher and won the team’s ‘Heart of the Heart’ Community Award... Led the WooSox in wins (nine) and ranked second in starts (23), innings (116.2) and strikeouts (111). Threw 5.0+ innings in 15 of his 23 Triple-A starts, including 6.0+ innings in seven of them...Allowed two or fewer ER in each of his seven starts of at least 6.0 IP.