A top prospect will be making a noticeable leap to the majors.
According to multiple reports, right-handed pitcher Jedixson Paez has officially made the White Sox’s Opening Day roster. The reliever ranks as the team’s No. 19 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline.
Paez, who has only reached the High-A level in his professional career, was limited by injuries to just 19.1 innings with the Red Sox organization in 2025. Despite the small sample, he posted a 2.79 ERA with a 27.7% strikeout rate and likely would have finished the season in Double-A, if not higher. Originally signed by Boston for $450,000 out of Venezuela in 2021, Paez has demonstrated excellent command throughout his journey. It’s why the White Sox decided to take a bigger gamble and select him with their second overall pick in last year’s Rule 5 Draft, and thus explains Paez’s spot on the roster.
The 22-year-old features a strong changeup and slider, giving him the ability to consistently generate outs. In 96.1 innings during the 2024 season, he recorded a 3.17 ERA across two levels for the Red Sox, with most of his work coming at High-A. His fastball, which sat around 85 mph early in his pro career, has since developed to the low 90s and can reach up to 94 mph. Paez offsets his below-average velocity by effectively commanding four-seamers at the top of the zone and two-seamers down at the knees.
Paez is undersized and works from a low three-quarters arm slot, which has led some evaluators to predict this sort of move to the bullpen despite his near-exclusive role as a starter in the minors. A transition to shorter outings could unlock another jump in velocity, allowing him to pair it with his plus secondary pitches and elite command to offer intriguing upside in relief. The White Sox will test this out, at least to start the season, as Paez figures to take on a similar role to that of the injured Mike Vasil.
Though the White Sox have still not finalized their Opening Day roster, a formal announcement can be expected soon.
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