Who is Jesus Travieso? Red Sox pitching prospect posted 3.06 ERA, 31.8 K% in 2025

Red Sox pitching prospect Jesus Travieso entered 2025 as a relative unknown.

Signed for just $10,000 as an international free agent coming out of Venezuela in January 2024, Travieso made his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League last June, pitching to a 3.80 ERA (3.13 FIP) with 27 strikeouts to 10 walks in 11 starts (21 1/3 innings) in which opposing hitters batted .238 against him.

With only 21 1/3 professional innings under his belt, Travieso came into the 2025 season without much pomp and circumstance. The 18-year-old right-hander arrived stateside for his domestic debut in the rookie-level Florida Complex League but struggled out of the gate, surrendering nine earned runs in his first three starts (seven innings) with the FCL Red Sox through May 19.

The following week, Travieso worked out of the bullpen for the first time as a pro and notched the first save of his young career with three scoreless frames against the FCL Braves. Including that outing, he forged a 0.84 ERA with 40 strikeouts to 18 walks over his next nine appearances (seven starts) spanning 32 innings in which opponents batted .147 against him. He was then rewarded with a promotion to Low-A Salem shortly after the FCL season ended in late July.

Carrying with him a 2.77 ERA through his first 12 outings (10 starts) of the year, Travieso was roughed up for four earned runs over 2 1/3 innings in his Low-A debut on July 27. The righty fared far better from there, though, as he finished the season by putting up a 2.31 ERA with 36 strikeouts to 10 walks in his final six appearances (five starts) and 23 1/3 innings for Salem. Opposing hitters did, however, bat .253 against him in that span.

Overall, Travieso posted a 3.06 ERA (3.15 FIP) with 90 strikeouts to 36 walks across 19 outings (16 starts) spanning 64 2/3 total innings between the FCL and Salem in 2025. Among 34 Red Sox minor-leaguers who threw at least 60 innings this year, Travieso ranked second in strikeouts per nine innings (12.53) and swinging-strike rate (17.5 percent), third in strikeout rate (31.8 percent), sixth in FIP and xFIP (3.16), 10th in ERA, and 17th in batting average against (.236), per FanGraphs.

Listed at 5-foot-11 and 140 pounds and equipped with a live arm, Travieso does not get much extension but still reached 99 mph with his upper-90s fastball this season. Throwing from a three-quarters arm slot and incorporating a high leg kick into his delivery, the projectable hurler also features an 82-86 mph slider and a changeup, as noted in his SoxProspects.com scouting report.

Travieso, who does not turn 19 until next March, is currently regarded by SoxProspects.com as Boston’s No. 38 prospect, which ranks 22nd among pitchers in the organization. He is projected by the site to return to Salem for the start of the 2026 season and will undoubtedly be an intriguing high-upside arm to follow.