Rule 5 Draft Pick Returned To Red Sox After Failing To Make Division Rivals' Roster
The Toronto Blue Jays returned a Rule 5 draft pick to the Boston Red Sox after the pitching prospect failed to make the Blue Jays' active roster.
Rule 5 Draft Pick Returned To Red Sox After Failing To Make Division Rivals' Roster originally appeared on NESN . Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Boston Red Sox are adding a pitcher to their system.
The relief prospect Angel Bastardo was returned to the system on Wednesday as he failed to make the Toronto Blue Jays' active roster. Bastardo was a Rule 5 draft pick in 2025, but missed all of the season due to Tommy John surgery. He returned to the mound this winter, but was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays just before opening day.
The team failed to work out a trade involving the pitcher, so he was returned to the Red Sox. Bastardo's calling card is his fastball. The pitch averaged 96 mph in Spring Training, reaching as high as 98 mph.
Control is the issue, however. Throughout Spring Training, the pitch's strike rate hovered around 50%, which isn't high enough to avoid walks out of the bullpen. He supplements the pitch with a changeup that evaluators think can be a plus offering.