BOSTON — Two plays stood out to manager Alex Cora during Red Sox rookie Richard Fitts’ MLB debut Sunday.
“There were two things that he did today that tells me that he’s going to be a good big leaguer,” Cora said.
Fitts pitched 5 ⅔ strong innings but Boston lost 7-2 to the 111-loss White Sox here at Fenway Park. Reliever Zack Kelly gave up five runs while recording just one out in the ninth inning.
Fitts’ pickoff play in the first inning and the double play he turned to end the fourth inning impressed Cora.
Luis Robert Jr. singled with one out in the first, but Fitts picked him off first base with No. 3 hitter Andrew Benintendi batting.
“(Bench coach) Rámon (Vázquez) put it on and he was patient, waited and got the guy out at first,” Cora said.
Fitts allowed singles to Robert and Benintendi to begin the fourth inning. Robert advanced to third base on a flyout to center field. But with one out and runners at the corners, Fitts induced a 1-6-3 double play to escape. Cora was impressed Fitts didn’t run toward Robert to try to catch him between third base and home.
“There’s a lot of big leaguers that will panic in that situation — catch it and run the guy out at third and don’t turn the double play,” Cora said. “He didn’t hesitate. He went to second and Trevor (Story) turned the double play. So those two plays tell me where he’s at mentally. He knows what he needs to do to compete at this level. Stuff was really good. He spun it. Did a good job throwing strikes. When there was traffic, he made some pitches. He had a blast. It was fun to watch.”
Fitts joked: “My high school baseball coach is here, too. So I think he’d be a little bit pissed off at me if I didn’t throw it to second to get the double play.”
Fitts allowed two unearned runs, six hits and one walk while striking out two in his 5 ⅔ innings. Both unearned runs came in the sixth inning after Triston Casas failed to field a ground ball. It turned into a two-base error.
The 24-year-old threw 31 four-seam fastballs, averaging 94.4 mph. He topped out at 96.2 mph on the first pitch of the game.
“The first pitch I was trying to throw it as hard as I can in the zone,” Fitts said. “And after he fouls it back I’m like, ‘All right. Here we go. I’m a big leaguer. I deserve to be here and I’m going to do everything I can to help the team win.’”
The righty also mixed in 18 sliders, 15 sweepers and two splitters, per Baseball Savant. He recorded five swings and misses.
The Red Sox acquired Fitts from the Yankees in the Alex Verdugo trade last offseason.
He was with the WooSox in Rochester on Saturday when the Red Sox informed him “it was a possibility” he would start Sunday. He and his wife drove from Rochester to Boston and arrived last night.
“I immediately started calling everybody (family and friends) and just telling them like, ‘Hey, I don’t know for sure if I’m going to start tomorrow but there’s a possibility if you all want to come; try to find a way,’” Fitts said.
Fitts had approximately 20 family members and friends here. His brother took a flight from Kentucky. Everyone else traveled from his home state of Alabama.
“Today was really special because I got to share it with my family,” Fitts said. “I’m really honored to be a Red Sox today and hopefully, for a long time.”
