After whirlwind trade, Slaten right at home
Right-hander excited to develop in Boston
It was an emotional moment for Justin Slaten. The 26-year-old right-hander had just learned he’d been selected in the Rule 5 Draft, and after spending his first five years as a pro with the Texas Rangers organization, he was now headed to the New York Mets.
But amid the hoopla at his family’s home, with congratulatory texts and farewell wishes coming in from former coaches and teammates, his big day suddenly took an unexpected turn.
“I got a phone call from a New York number and in about a 30-second phone call he’s like we’re going to spare you all the details but essentially you’re going to Boston,” Slaten said. “I was out on the back porch and went back inside and was like ‘well you guys aren’t going to believe this.’ “
Minutes after he was taken in the Rule 5 Draft, the Red Sox worked out a trade with the Mets to land the promising reliever. Under Rule 5 regulations, Slaten must now spend the entire season on the Red Sox 26-man roster or be offered back to the Rangers, making him one of the most intriguing subplots of the upcoming season.
For a pitcher who has only ever appeared in five games above Double-A, it’s a tremendous opportunity, but Slaten said he’s excited to be in this position and plans to take full advantage.
“It’s not a guarantee,” Slaten said. “It’s something I’m going to have to work for and I’m going to have to earn and I have every intention of doing that.”
Leading into the Winter Meetings, Slaten was identified by Baseball America as the best player available in the Rule 5 Draft, and following the trade Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said he was “very clearly” the team’s top target. The former third-round pick out of the University of New Mexico earned that renown thanks to a dominant 2023 season in which he posted a 2.87 ERA with 86 strikeouts over 59.2 innings split between Double-A and Triple-A.
He racked up all those strikeouts utilizing an impressive four-pitch mix that features a fastball, cutter, slider and curveball, and Slaten said he tries to take an aggressive approach whenever he takes the mound.
“I like to go at people, the best way to pitch is full speed at all times,” Slaten said. “I’m somebody that I want to attack hitters and sometimes that’s to my benefit, sometimes it’s to my detriment, but at the end of the day I’m going to live and die with every pitch that I throw.”
That type of confidence will be an asset to Slaten, but the jump from the upper minors to MLB is a big one. To help ensure Slaten has the best chance of success, Red Sox director of player development Brian Abraham said they’re working on some tweaks they hope will help his stuff play better in the strike zone.
“Obviously a power fastball, someone who throws hard, who could be more consistent in the zone,” Abraham said. “To be able to use his secondaries to get swing and miss in the zone is something that’s going to be really valuable.”
Following the trade, Slaten flew up to Boston for a day to take his physical and meet some of the Red Sox staff, and this week he is back taking part in the Red Sox Rookie Development Program, which aims to help assimilate young players into the big leagues and prepare them for life in the majors.
Over the past few days he’s had a chance to meet some of his new teammates and coaches, and this weekend he’ll travel out to Springfield to participate in Red Sox Winter Weekend. An east Texas native, Slaten had never visited Fenway Park before the trade, and even though it’s been configured for football or covered in snow the two times he’s seen it, he said the historic park has still exceeded all expectations.
“I haven’t been able to take it in in it’s full glory, but even just being able to step foot in the concourse, walk out into the tunnel and into the dugout, it just kind of makes your heart beat a bit faster,” Slaten said. “It’s incredible.”
The last Rule 5 pick to start a season on Boston’s roster, Garrett Whitlock, wound up being among the most successful picks in recent memory. More often, Rule 5 picks don’t stick in the majors and are eventually returned to their original team. Slaten will have his work cut out trying to earn his place with so many others vying for a spot in the bullpen, but as opportunity knocks, he’s hopeful this is only the beginning of a long and fruitful run in Boston.
“I’m excited to be in Boston,” Slaten said. “I’m excited to get to play in front of this fanbase and hopefully be here for a long time and help this city get back to winning championships.”