The Boston Pink Sox have signed catcher Riley Adams to a minor league deal, including energy hitting depth behind Adley Rutschman because the offseason begins, in line with a report by WHDH reporter Ari Alexander.
With Connor Wong and Mickey Gasper already on the 40-man roster, the transfer raises a recent query about who really backs up Rutschman in 2027.
“Adams has 263 video games of MLB expertise, largely with the Nationals from 2021-25,” Alexander wrote. The Ballengee Group consumer tasks as a non-roster participant in main league camp, in line with MLB Commerce Rumors.
Born June 26, 1996, in Encinitas, California, Adams bats and throws right-handed, is 6-foot-4 and weighs 263 kilos, in line with Baseball-Reference‘s participant profile. The Chicago Cubs drafted him within the thirty seventh spherical in 2014 out of Canyon Crest Academy in San Diego, however he performed school ball on the College of San Diego as a substitute.
The Toronto Blue Jays drafted him within the third spherical in 2017.
Learn Extra From Heavy
Pink Sox Gave Up on Pitcher From Devers Commerce, Now He’s Going to the World Collection
Riley Adams’ Profession With Washington Nationals
Adams debuted June 8, 2021, with Toronto and completed that season in Washington, the place he spent the majority of his profession. Throughout components of 5 seasons and 263 video games, he owns a .211/.287/.354 line with 21 house runs and 73 RBI. MLB Commerce Rumors notes a 32.5% strikeout price over that stretch.
His greatest season got here in 2023, when he hit .273/.331/.476 with 4 house runs and 21 RBI in 44 video games. Washington gave him a career-high 83 video games in 2025, and he hit .186/.252/.308 with eight homers. Adams’s common bat velocity ranked fourth amongst main leaguers that 12 months, trailing solely Giancarlo Stanton, Oneil Cruz and Junior Caminero, in line with NBC Sports activities.
The Nationals eliminated Adams from the 40-man roster in January, and he spent all of 2026 in Triple-A. There, he hit .273/.389/.506 with 16 house runs in 82 video games. As a result of he carried greater than three years of service time and held no 40-man spot, he certified for minor league free company after the season, MLB Commerce Rumors studies.
Defensively, Adams charges poorly at framing pitches however holds up effectively on bounced pitches and throws, in line with the identical report. He has additionally logged restricted time at first base.
Learn Extra From Heavy
Pink Sox Castoff Nonetheless a Free Agent 100 Days After Final MLB Pitch
Boston Pink Sox Catching Depth and Riley Adams’ 2027 Outlook
Boston acquired Rutschman on the commerce deadline, and he enters 2027 because the starter. Sports activities Illustrated studies Wong dealt with most backup duties this previous season, whereas MLB Commerce Rumors studies that Gasper, who not often caught in 2026, holds a 40-man spot too.
Boston views Adams as depth, a 3rd or fourth choice, and should pursue a extra established backup by free company or a commerce, in line with the identical report. Pouliot tasks him in that very same spot on the depth chart coming into spring coaching.
Adams doesn’t maintain a 40-man roster spot, so Boston must add him earlier than any call-up. For now, he enters the competitors for the backup job alongside Wong and presumably Gasper, with the offseason nonetheless in its early levels.
Learn Extra From Heavy
Pink Sox Nonetheless Owe Roman Anthony $123 Million After One other Playoff Harm
Like HEAVY’s content material? Make sure you comply with us.
This text was initially printed on HEAVY
The put up Pink Sox Make First Free Agent Signing, Land Former Blue Jays Draft Decide appeared first on HEAVY.
