Red Sox purchase contract of 6-foot-7 lefty PJ Labriola from Frontier League team

The Red Sox officially purchased the contract of left-hander PJ Labriola from the New York Boulders of the independent Frontier League on Wednesday, per the club’s MLB.com transactions log.

Labriola opened the 2025 season in New York after signing with the club in early March. The 24-year-old appeared in three games for the Boulders this month, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits, one walk, and two strikeouts over three innings. He recorded the first save of his professional career against the Rox in Brockton, Mass., last Friday.

“As soon as we started to pursue PJ this winter, we knew that he was a special player, and we also knew that he was very much of the radar of a few different organizations,” Boulders manager TJ Stanton said in a statement released by the team on Monday. “I could not be happier for PJ and absolutely love getting the opportunity to be a part of these great players’ baseball journeys. Hopefully there will be many more to come!”

A native of Sarasota, Fla., Labriola spent the first three years of his collegiate career at Clemson before transferring to North Carolina State in 2023. The lefty compiled an 8.58 ERA in 22 appearances (28 1/3 innings) over two seasons with the Wolfpack and went undrafted as a fifth-year senior last summer. He then spent the remainder of 2024 pitching for the Frederick Keys of the MLB Draft League and the Rocky Mountain Vibes of the independent Pioneer League, forging a 6.00 ERA across 12 outings (12 innings) between the two clubs.

Listed at 6-foot-7 and 223 pounds, Labriola was among the standout performers at Tread Athletics’ series of pro days back in January. As part of that showcase in Pineville, N.C., the towering southpaw featured a mid-90s fastball, an 89-90 mph cutter, and an 86-plus mph gyro slider. He likely caught the Red Sox’ attention at that time and, following a brief stint in the Frontier League, it ultimately culminated in an agreement between the two sides.

Labriola, who does not turn 25 until November, has been assigned to the Florida Complex League Red Sox for the start of his organizational tenure. With that being said, it would not be surprising if he were to join one of Boston’s lower-level full-season affiliates (either Low-A Salem or High-A Greenville) as an additional bullpen option before long.