Ex-MLB Player Claims Potential Red Sox Target Has ‘Unicorn Pitch’

The Boston Red Sox could dabble in the free agency market, not only to bolster the lineup but to improve the pitching staff too.

Corbin Burnes, following a solid 2024 season with the Baltimore Orioles, might be Boston’s answer to doing just that. Burnes went 15-9 with a 2.92 ERA, striking out 181 hitters across 194 1/3 innings pitched. The four-time All-Star and 2021 National League Cy Young Award winner is expected to garner plenty of offseason attention for more reasons than one as teams scramble to re-polish their rosters before Opening Day in 2025.

“In the case of Corbin Burnes, specifically, his cutter sits right around 95, 96 miles an hour,” former big-leaguer Ryan Spilborghs told MLB Network Radio. “And you know, velocity is huge for margin of error. The harder you throw, the bigger margin for error so you can miss in the middle of the plate. Well, with the cut fastball, because their eyes are not able to see the last couple of feet, it moves from the spot that we think it’s at. … So that pitch is truly like a unicorn pitch.”

Boston put together an encouraging performance with its pitching last season, leading all MLB teams with a 2.59 ERA through the first 30 games of 2024. Due to a revolving injured list, the Red Sox struggled to maintain that production, while already missing offseason signing Lucas Giolito and losing Garrett Whitlock after three starts. Durability will be the major key to Boston’s starting rotation success in 2025, however, adding a veteran arm like Burnes to the mix could do wonders too.

The Red Sox already have Brayan Bello, Tanner Houck, a first-time All-Star last season, Kutter Crawford and Giolito. Plus, the organization also extended a $21.05 million qualifying offer to Nick Pivetta for 2025, meaning if everyone’s on board, including Burnes, Boston could enter next season with a fully right-handed rotation.

Perhaps Burnes and his “unicorn” pitch are what could put Boston over the hump to reach postseason contention for the first time since 2021.