With the second pick in the 2025 Rule 5 Draft, the White Sox selected right-hander Jedixson Paez from the Boston Red Sox.
The 21-year-old was considered one of the Red Sox’s top 30 prospects by MLB Pipeline, which ranked him No. 19 in the organization. The Red Sox initially signed the 6-foot-1 170 170-pound righty out of Venezuela in 2021.
Paez marks a bit of a different approach from the White Sox front office, which often takes fliers on hard-throwing pitchers with some control issues.
Paez is the exact opposite. His fastball sits in the low 90s and tops out around 94 mph, but he pairs it with elite command. Scouts grade his control at a 70. Despite the modest velocity, Paez has had no trouble missing bats. In 2024, he recorded 113 strikeouts over 96 2/3 innings across Low-A and High-A, while issuing just 12 walks.
His 9.4 strikeout-to-walk ratio ranked second in the minor leagues that season, while his 3% walk rate ranked third. A large reason why is his heavy slider usage, which he throws even more than his fastball. His best pitch, however, is his changeup, which features late downward movement. He also uses a deceptive delivery with a low arm slot and keeps hitters off balance by mixing locations while consistently pounding the strike zone.
Last season, he only threw 19.1 innings across seven starts in High-A due to a calf injury, but posted a 2.79 ERA. While all of his appearances came as a starter, ten of his 22 appearances in 2024 came out of the bullpen. Despite most of his recent work coming as a starter, some scouts have him projected as a reliever long-term as he continues to progress through the minor leagues.
Chris Getz has stated that the team is looking for bullpen help, and if Perez can stick on the active roster, he could work as a low-leverage reliever for the White Sox. Last year's Rule 5 pick, Shane Smith, made an immediate impact for the White Sox, logging a 3.81 ERA and serving as the team's lone All-Star representative.
