Red Sox promote pitching prospect Blake Aita to High-A Greenville

The Red Sox are promoting pitching prospect Blake Aita from Low-A Salem to High-A Greenville, according to Chase Ford of MiLB Central.

Aita, who turns 22 on Wednesday, is currently regarded by SoxProspects.com as Boston’s No. 43 prospect, which ranks 23rd among pitchers in the organization. The right-hander posted a 4.24 ERA (3.52 FIP) with 45 strikeouts to nine walks in 10 outings (nine starts) spanning a staff-leading 51 innings for Salem to open his first full professional season. Opposing hitters batted .240 against him.

Among 14 qualified pitchers in the Carolina League entering the week, Aita ranked first in walks per nine innings (1.59) and walk rate (4.4 percent), second in WHIP (1.08) and xFIP (3.32), fourth in groundball rate (49.3 percent), fifth in FIP and line-drive rate (19.2 percent), sixth in strikeout rate (22 percent), and seventh in strikeouts per nine innings (7.94), per FanGraphs.

A two-time Carolina League Pitcher of the Week award recipient in his first stint with Salem, Aita was selected by the Red Sox in the sixth round (177th overall) of last summer’s draft out of Kennesaw State, where he earned 2024 All-Atlantic Sun First Team honors. As a draft-eligible sophomore, the Georgia native signed for an under-slot $300,000 in late July but did not make his professional debut until earlier this year.

Standing at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, Aita throws from a high-three-quarters arm slot and incorporates a medium-high leg kick into his delivery. The sturdy righty primarily operates with a 92-95 mph fastball (up from 89-92 mph in college), an 80-82 mph sweeper, an 86-89 mph cutter, and an 85-89 mph changeup, as noted in his SoxProspects.com scouting report.

“He’s been great so far,” Red Sox senior director of player development Brian Abraham said of Aita last month. “He worked hard all offseason and spring training to set himself up for success throughout the year. He added velo to his fastball along with his secondaries and continues to pound the zone. His sweeper has been a big weapon, used for strikes and chase against both sides. Very pleased with the consistency and constant improvement daily.”

With this promotion, Aita is now slated to join a talented pitching staff in Greenville that — as of this writing — includes fellow 2024 draftees Payton Tolle, John Holobetz, Brandon Clarke, and Matt McShane.