Check your Fantasy Baseball waiver wire, there’s a new pitcher available. His name is Richard Fitts, and he picked up 12 fantasy points this weekend against the Chicago White Sox at Fenway Park in Boston.
A Helena, Ala., native, Fitts pitched at Auburn from 2019-21 and spent the last three years in the minor leagues before debuting with the Red Sox on Sunday.
Fitts turned in a solid outing, giving up 6 hits and 2 runs across 5 2/3 innings. He struck out two batters, walked one, and got a no-decision in the White Sox 7-2 victory.
“It was a lot of fun,” Fitts said in article for ESPN. “Today was really special just because I got to share it with my family and I’m really honored to be a Red Sox for today and hopefully for a long time.”
The former Auburn pitcher logged his first MLB strikeout against the White Sox’s Lenyn Sosa in the second inning and scored a pick-off play of former MLB All-Star Luis Robert Jr.
Best of all, Fitts’ manager was pleased. “Stuff was really good,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora told MLB.com. “He spun it. Did a good job throwing strikes. There was traffic. He made some pitches. He had a blast. It was fun to watch.”
Auburn vs Mississippi State, on Sunday, June 16, 2019, in Omaha, NE.
Cat Wofford/Auburn Athletics
Last December, Fitts was part of a trade with the New York Yankees that sent Alex Verdugo to the Bronx in exchange for Fitts, Greg Weissart, and Nicolas Judice.
He was the Red Sox No. 13 prospect when called up.
With the nod, Fitts became the 11th member of the Auburn Tiger program to make their MLB debut since the beginning of the 2020 season, which is the second most in the Southeastern Conference during that span.
At Auburn, Fitts was used both as a starter and reliever in his role with the Tigers, turning in six career wins and a save with 104 strikeouts in 117.0 innings pitched. He played a critical role in Auburn’s College World Series run in 2019, earning wins in regional play at Georgia Tech, posting 6.0 scoreless innings against the Yellow Jackets, and super regional play at North Carolina, picking up the decision in 5.1 innings in the decisive game three against the Tar Heels.
After earning preseason All-America accolades prior to 2021, Fitts pitched injured for much of his junior season. He was selected by the Yankees in the sixth round of the 2021 MLB Draft.
In 73 minor league appearances—including 72 starts—he has earned 27 wins and logged a 3.75 ERA with 405 strikeouts in 381.1 innings pitched. He was named a 2022 MiLB Organizational All-Star and 2023 Eastern League Pitcher of the Year with the Yankees before being traded to Boston.
In 24 appearances and 23 starts with Worcester this season, Fitts won nine games and posted a 4.17 ERA. In his last six starts, he went 4-0 with a 2.38 ERA, 37 strikeouts, and four walks in 34.0 innings pitched.
With his debut on Sunday, Fitts became Auburn’s 62nd big leaguer of all-time, the fourth this season. TG
Photos courtesy Auburn Athletics
