Red Sox prospect used family’s no-quit mentality through ‘hard times’ on journey to majors

MINNEAPOLIS — Red Sox pitcher Tyler Samaniego , who made his MLB last Wednesday, was never a top prospect with a straight path to the majors. He began his college career as a first baseman/occasional relief pitcher at Northeast Mississippi Community College. He pitched just 21 ⅓ innings total in two seasons at Division I South Alabama before the Pittsburgh Pirates selected him 433rd overall in the 2021 Draft.

He signed with the Pirates for only $75,000. A back injury and elbow surgery caused him to miss time in the minor leagues. The 6-foot-4, 205-pounder faced adversity off the field, too.

His father Richard Samaniego, who had a significant influence on his baseball career, died from a heart attack in August 2022. After years of grinding, the 27-year-old struck out the side in his big league debut against the Brewers and could feel his dad right there with him on the mound . “There’s definitely times that it felt so far away that it makes you start thinking about other options but it just goes back to how my family is — we’re not quitters," Samaniego said.

Boston acquired Samaniego and starting pitcher Johan Oviedo from the Pirates for power-hitting outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia on Dec. 4. Baseball America ranked Samaniego the Red Sox’ No.