FORT MYERS, Fla. — Righty Yordanny Monegro wasn’t a big-name amateur international prospect, signing with the Red Sox for only $35,000 out of the Dominican Republic in February 2020.
But he received a larger bonus than Red Sox top starting pitcher Brayan Bello did in 2017. Bello wasn’t a star prospect either, inking for $28,000 out of the D.R.
“Bello is a big motivation for me,” Monegro said through translator Jarrett Pico during the Red Sox’s Fall Performance Program at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers in September. “When I was in the DSL, I used him as an example and role model. And then during instructs that year, I was actually roommates with Bello for that instructional period.”
Bello and Monegro roomed together in Fort Myers following the 2021 season.
“We developed a really good friendship and relationship — almost like a mentorship,” Monegro said. “Bello gave me a lot of good advice. He told me I had talent and just to keep on that path. I’ve used him a lot as a resource. Thankfully, I’ve been able to have success after that.”
$200 INSTANT BONUS
DRAFTKINGS MASS
BET $5, GET $200 BONUS BET
FANDUEL MASS
BET $50, GET $250 BONUS
CAESARS MASS
$1,000 FIRST-BET BONUS
BETMGM MASS
MA only. 21+. Gambling Problem? If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support. LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234
MA Gambling Helpline.
Monegro, a 20-year-old righty, enjoyed a breakout season in 2023. He started the season in the Florida Complex League and earned promotions to Low-A Salem and High-A Greenville. He combined to go 6-3 with a 2.06 ERA (65 ⅔ innings, 15 earned runs) and 1.10 WHIP in 14 outings, 13 starts. Opponents batted .194 against him and he averaged 12.7 strikeouts per nine innings.
He made three starts in the FCL, nine starts for Salem and one starts for Greenville. He also tossed a 5-inning relief outing at Greenville. MLB Pipeline ranks him the Red Sox’s No. 22 prospect. Baseball America ranks him Boston’s 29th best prospect.
“I’ve known him since 2020 so I feel great for him,” Bello said about Monegro through translator Carlos Villoria Benítez. “He can throw hard. He has good command and he’s a nice kid.”
Monegro has big goals, including joining Bello in the Boston rotation next season.
“One of my goals for next year, hopefully with the help of God, is I can be a big leaguer,” he said.
He throws a four-seam fastball, two-seam fastball, curveball, cutter and changeup.
He began throwing the two-seamer and cutter this year. Walter Miranda, a pitching coordinator in the Red Sox system, introduced the two pitches to him during spring training.
He already considers his cutter his third best pitch after his four-seamer and curveball.
“It has like a half inch to one inch of horizontal break,” he said.
He said his two-seamer has helped him a lot because he’s able to “throw it any situation.”
“My changeup is something I want to work on,” he said.
MLB Pipeline grades Monegro’s curveball as a 60 (above average) on the 20-80 grading scale.
“I started throwing it around 13 years old,” Monegro said. “At the time, I didn’t throw that hard so I worked a lot on my breaking ball. I was kind of hesitant to throw it at first. And then I kept throwing it enough that I gained a lot of confidence in it and it developed into a really good pitch for me.”
His curveball has 12-to-6 action. His uncle, Alexis Candelario, who was once in the Dodgers system and pitched for years in Mexico, taught him the pitch.
“During the tryout process, I still wasn’t throwing too hard because I kind of had some elbow issues,” he said. “And then when I tried out for the Red Sox back in the D.R., I was able to top out at 92. After I got signed that summer, I was able to hit 96. So kind of my first year in the D.R. in pro ball was when I saw that velo take that jump.”
The late Yordano Ventura was his favorite pitcher growing up in the Dominican Republic.
“When he was on the mound, he pitched fearlessly,” Monegro said about Ventura. “On the field, he was a fearless competitor.”
Other Red Sox minor league stories from fall camp:
New Red Sox OF prospect beat cancer, cousin ‘saved’ his life with tackle
Red Sox power-hitting C prospect read Ted Williams’ book ‘a million times’
