Jedixson Paez: Taking the Long Way

Right-handed pitcher Jedixson Paez will make his Boston Red Sox debut tonight, though it won’t be his first time taking the mound as a Major League pitcher.

Paez, 22, signed with the Boston Red Sox out of Tinaquillo, Venezuela in 2021. He developed a reputation for pounding the strike zone, walking just 49 batters with 307 strikeouts in 307.2 career innings pitched prior to the 2026 season.

Despite Paez missing most of the 2025 season with a calf strain, and never playing above High-A, the Chicago White Sox saw enough promise in the righty hurler to steal him from the Red Sox through the 2025 Rule 5 draft.

“Estaba muy emocionado,” dijo Paez. “De verdad que fue algo como que no me lo esperaba. Como que llegó. Literalmente. Llegó de sorpresa y estaba contento en el momento. También me sentí un poco, digamos triste porque como que iba a dejar a los muchachos y todo ya tenía que cinco años con los muchachos, pero iba una nueva experiencia, algo que fue muy bonito.”

“I was really excited,” said Paez. “It was honestly something I didn’t expect. It just sort of happened—literally. It came as a surprise, and I was happy in the moment. I also felt a bit... let’s say sad, because I was going to be leaving the guys—I’d been with them for five years—but I was heading into a new experience, something truly wonderful.”

Paez made his MLB Debut for the White Sox on Opening Day in 2026, allowing three runs on two hits in 1.1 innings pitched against the Brewers.

After recording an 18.00 ERA in three 2026 appearances for the White Sox, Paez was designated for assignment and returned to the Red Sox in April. He was sent straight to Double-A Portland, where he reunited with the guys he had been so hesitant to say goodbye to earlier in the year.

Returning to the minor leagues was not easy. Paez felt down and disappointed, but quickly readjusted, making developmental strides throughout the season.

“Estoy teniendo muy buenos resultados con el cambio últimamente,” dijo Paez. “Fue algo con el que tuve un poquito de problema cuando estaba en Arizona, estuve practicando eso porque no quería hacer nada, estaba malísimo, pero se hicieron los ajustes y nada. Creo que ahora es mi mejor pitcheo.

“I’ve been getting really good results with the changeup lately,” said Paez. “It was something I struggled with a bit when I was in Arizona; I kept working on it because I didn't want to throw it—I was terrible at it—but we made the adjustments, and, well, I think it’s my best pitch now.”

Paez recorded a 2-3 record with a 4.41 ERA for Portland in 2026 before he was assigned to Triple-A Worcester, having pitched in every role, from a one-inning closer to a four-inning starter. In three starts for Worcester, Paez is 0-1 with a 2.92 ERA, allowing four runs on seven hits and two walks with 18 strikeouts in 12.1 innings pitched. In his last outing on August 25, Paez went a season-high 5.0 innings, allowing one run on one hit, a solo home run, while striking out eight.

Now, having climbed the ladder in the organization that signed him as a 17-year-old, Paez got the call to the big leagues once again. He will fill in for a resting Sonny Gray at Fenway Park against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night, as the Red Sox continue their push towards the postseason.

Paez will be the second 2026 Portland Sea Dog to make his Red Sox debut. Left-handed pitcher Eduardo Rivera began the year in Portland, and has spent the rest of the season back and forth between Boston and Worcester.