BOSTON -- Not all the prospects who impact a contending team are the early-round Draft picks who come attached with the big signing bonus and pamphlet full of accolades.
There¡¯s something to be said for the guy who earns his way up the organizational ladder with little fanfare and is ready once called on.
That is the story that Hunter Dobbins is currently writing for himself.
Boston¡¯s No. 14 prospect per MLB Pipeline has been called on twice this season for spot starts, and he has delivered both times.
Called on to pitch the back end of a day-night doubleheader against the Cardinals on April 6, Dobbins made his Major League debut a memorable one. He allowed two runs over five innings, walking two and striking out five while earning the win in a game Boston routed St. Louis, 18-7.
As the allotted 27th man a team can call up for a doubleheader, Dobbins went back to Triple-A Worcester immediately after.
But Dobbins returned for another strong one-night cameo on Friday against the White Sox, allowing three hits and two runs (one earned) over six innings. He walked none and struck out six, filling in for the injured Richard Fitts. By winning his first two Major League starts, Dobbins became the first Boston pitcher to do so since Tanner Houck in 2020.
Dobbins was again optioned after the game, but it¡¯s safe to assume he will be back.
¡°He's a good pitcher,¡± said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. ¡°He¡¯s got good stuff. He has command of the fastball, which is very important at this level.¡±
The Red Sox selected Dobbins in the eighth round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of Texas Tech, just months after he had undergone Tommy John surgery that forced him to miss his final college season.
Dobbins did well enough with the rehab to make 17 starts in his first pro season, 2022, at Single-A Salem, and he worked his way up to each additional level of the organization in the ensuing seasons.
The 25-year-old has a steady demeanor on and off the mound, which should serve him well.
¡°No matter where you're at, what town, what stadium, it's the same game, throwing the baseball the same distance over the same size plate,¡± Dobbins said.
Don¡¯t turn your head when Dobbins is between pitches, because you might miss one.
¡°I try to work fast,¡± he said. ¡°I've found that I pound the zone a lot better when I pitch with that fast tempo. It takes the pitch clock out of it. I don't have to worry about that or think about it. So I like to get the ball, throw the ball as quickly as I can.¡±
Through those first two starts, Dobiins had a pitch tempo of 12.9 seconds between pitches, the fastest of any Red Sox starting pitcher this season.
He has a five-pitch mix in which he relies most heavily on a four-seamer that averages 94.9 mph, per Statcast. Dobbins also mixes in a slider, a splitter, a curve and a sinker. His slider has a whiff rate of 60 percent.
¡°I¡¯ve got to tip the cap to our pitching development,¡± Dobbins said. ¡°They've helped me really become the guy that I am today. We¡¯ve added some pitches, taken some pitches away. Their insights helped me become the pitcher that I was able to go out there and perform like [on Friday].¡±
The Red Sox are keeping their options open with Dobbins. Interestingly, both of his outings for Worcester this season have been multi-inning relief stints -- long enough to keep him stretched out.
¡°If the big league club needs me to keep making starts, obviously, I'm going to be here ready to go,¡± Dobbins said. ¡°Coming out of the bullpen down in Worcester, learning how to do that again, just kind of opens up that opportunity where, if late in the season comes around and they need me out of the bullpen, I¡¯m going to be prepared for it. So I'm enjoying it, just so I am ready for whatever role they need me in.¡±