Red Sox to promote prospect Jhostynxon Garcia ahead of critical four-game series in the Bronx

The Red Sox are continuing their youth movement by promoting another top prospect to the big league roster.

Boston called up Jhostynxon Garcia from Triple-A Worcester, according to multiple reports.

He will not be in the starting lineup on Thursday night, and Alex Cora was noncommittal about how much playing time the young prospect would get with the club.

The Sox’ No. 3 prospect, also known as “The Password,” will join Boston in the Bronx on Thursday, ahead of their crucial four-game series with the Yankees. Garcia is needed because right fielder Wilyer Abreu is heading to the injured list with a calf injury, according to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo.

Abreu tweaked his right calf in Sunday’s game against the Marlins, and initially it was expected he’d be out a few games and miss a stint on the injured list. Cora told reporters earlier in the week that Abreu was “sore and tight” but stressed they needed to be patient in his recovery.

Garcia will catch a flight around 4 p.m. with the hopes of getting to Yankee Stadium before the 7:15 p.m. first pitch.

The No. 78 prospect in all of baseball, according to Baseball America, rose through the Sox’ system during an impressive 2024 season. He excelled through three levels of the system, ending the season with the Portland Sea Dogs. He was optioned to the minors following spring training and began his season in Double-A. He played just 33 games with the Sea Dogs before being promoted to Triple-A Worcester on May 18.

While in Worcester, Garcia raked at the plate, hitting .303 with 17 homers, 12 doubles, and 56 RBI, and owning an impressive .932 OPS. He has experience playing all three outfield positions and began to work out at first base the last couple of weeks. He played eight innings at first base for the WooSox while in Iowa last week without making an error.

With two outfielders on the IL, there was a clear need for Garcia in Boston. The Sox will now mix-and-match Garcia, Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela, Jarren Duran, and Masataka Yoshida.

It’ll be fascinating to see where the Red Sox use Garcia in the outfield while in the bigs. Anthony has primarily played in right field when Abreu was out of the lineup. Duran and Rafaela had split time in center field, and Anthony, Duran, and Yoshida have played left field. Garcia has spent the most time in center field with the WooSox, but despite that, Duran and Rafaela are better options at the position. 

I'd expect that he plays in right field with the Red Sox. 

Garcia offers the Red Sox a right-handed bat in the lineup and off the bench for late-inning pinch-hitting duties. He mashes right-handed pitching; he’s hitting .290 with an .862 OPS in 98 games and demolishes off-speed pitching.

He has sneaky pop in his bat, with most publications indicating it’s above-average power potential. He ranked in the 90th percentile in exit velocity with the WooSox and had maxed out at 110.2 mph. Ten of his 17 Triple-A blasts were hit to left field, which could make it fun to watch him pepper the Green Monster while in Boston.

A concern for Garcia will be the swing-and-miss with his bat. He has a 27.5% K rate while with the WooSox and will face a higher quality of pitching at the big league level. His right-handed bat could also complement Yoshida at DH, and you could argue the young prospect is already a massive upgrade of the veteran outfielder. Fans have been watching electrifying highlights on social media, creating massive excitement around “The Password.” Like most young players, people should temper expectations as he transitions to the Majors.

Garcia represented the Red Sox organization at the 2025 All-Star Futures Game in Atlanta. He was signed for $350,000 as an international free agent coming out of Venezuela in July 2019. Boston added him to the 40-man roster last winter to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.

A few weeks ago, the Sox dangled the 22-year-old in trade talks to acquire Twins righty Joe Ryan. Both sides were unable to come to terms on a deal, and Garcia remained with the Red Sox. 

Now the club and fans will get a first-hand look at the slugger against the archrivals this weekend. Abreu is the latest outfielder to land on the IL. 

The Red Sox also placed Rob Refsnyder on the 10-day IL, retroactive to August 15, with a left oblique strain. If he’s ready, Refsnyfer could be activated as soon as next Monday (August 25), when Boston begins a four-game series with the Orioles.

The 34-year-old began to experience discomfort in his oblique while taking batting proactive a few days ago, prompting the club put him on the shelf for a few weeks. Refsnyder has played 54 games for the Sox this year, hitting .272 with six homers, 22 RBI, and an .827 OPS. He has a .905 OPS against lefties and has started 32 games against them.

Boston made a flurry of roster moves on Thursday, recalling Richard Fitts and David Hamilton from Triple-A Worcester. 

The club designated infielder Abraham Toro for assignment and optioned right-handed pitcher Isaiah Campbell to Triple-A Worcester.