Pitcher Red Sox Acquired At Trade Deadline Could Be Future ‘Force’

Four of the five players the Boston Red Sox acquired prior to last week's MLB trade deadline are contributing at the big-league level.

The one player dealt to the Red Sox who is not in the majors at the moment is Quinn Priester. But don't count out the 23-year-old starting pitching prospect just yet. In the eyes of The Athletic's Andy McCullough, obtaining Priester might just be the most important move Boston made at the deadline.

The Red Sox got Priester from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for infield prospect Nick Yorke, and McCullough believes Priester could make significant contributions to the Red Sox in the future.

"The Red Sox sent Priester to Triple-A Worcester and tasked him with improving his fastball velocity while increasing the usage of his changeup," McCullough wrote. "If the Red Sox developmental staff can sharpen Priester's arsenal, he could be a force on the big-league roster for years to come."

Priester's tenure with the Red Sox organization got off to a rough start. He allowed eight runs -- tied for most in his pro career -- on six hits to go along with four walks and four strikeouts in just 2 1/3 innings of work in his debut with Worcester on Sunday.

That certainly leaves plenty of room for growth from the right-hander, who generally has excelled in the minors in his career. It's when Priester toes the rubber in the big leagues where things have unraveled for him.

Priester made 20 appearances (14 starts) over the last two seasons with the Pirates, posting a 5-9 record with a bloated 6.46 ERA. In the minors, he holds a 25-16 mark with a 3.59 ERA and 384 strikeouts in 368 2/3 innings.

Priester certainly is a project for the Red Sox as they look to develop him. If they push the right buttons, perhaps he could fulfill what McCullough sees in him, and become more than just organizational pitching depth down the road.