Red Sox to give one of top prospects some reps at 1B

“The Password” has been given permission to move around the diamond.

Highly-touted Red Sox prospect and outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia will get reps at first base in Triple-A Worcester at some point this season, Red Sox farm director Brian Abraham told The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey. However, it isn’t clear what date Garcia will start getting reps at first base, with Kristian Campbell and Vaughn Grissom getting more run at the position with the WooSox as of late.

Still, Boston’s willingness to move Garcia to the infield is an interesting development for his long-term future with the franchise. Following Roman Anthony’s call-up in June, the Red Sox have had to deal with a surplus of outfielders, making it tough to project a spot for Garcia on the big league roster in the near future.

Even if it’s a long shot, a move to first base could theoretically allow Garcia to make the big league roster this season, considering Boston’s use of platoon players at the position since Triston Casas’s injury in early May. If Garcia continues to hit the ball well in Triple-A Worcester and force the Red Sox’ hand (.298 batting average, .921 OPS, 13 home runs in 52 games), they’d at least have a spot for the 22-year-old right-handed hitter.

Beyond 2025, switching to first base would seemingly help Garcia’s chances to remain with the Red Sox for the long haul. It’s been rumored that Boston will part with one of its big league outfielders at some point, but that still hasn’t prevented Garcia’s name from being included in trade talks. The Red Sox included him in offers for Twins pitcher Joe Ryan and Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcantara ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline, WEEI’s Rob Bradford reported.

But Garcia could have some competition at first base as well, even if Casas’s recovery from his torn patellar tendon goes into the 2026 season. Campbell might need to play first base if he wants a regular spot in the Red Sox’ lineup next season, depending on whether Alex Bregman and Trevor Story remain in Boston. The Red Sox have made a much larger financial commitment to Campbell than Garcia, with the former hitting better as of late (.272 batting average, .842 OPS, four home runs in 31 games) since he was sent back down to Triple-A.

Following the call-up of Anthony, Garcia is arguably the top hitting prospect in the Red Sox’ system. He was recently ranked as the fifth-best prospect in their farm system by SoxProspects.com, trailing Franklin Arias.

Garcia’s 2025 breakout has also helped him become viewed as one of the top prospects in the game. He was ranked as the 95th-best prospect in baseball in Baseball America’s recent update of its top 100 prospects, while The Athletic‘s Keith Law ranks Garcia as the 46th-best prospect in baseball.

Beyond figuring out where he’d play for the Red Sox, Law believes that Garcia needs more time in the minors so he can learn how to hit breaking balls better.

“I would pump the brakes a little bit here, even though I obviously think he’s a very promising hitter, as he’s had much worse results on breaking stuff in Triple A, and he has to make more of an adjustment to those pitches before he’s ready for the majors,” Law wrote of Garcia.