It doesn’t happen often that a player gets drafted to their favorite team, in any sport, but it happened for the Boston Red Sox at the end of the second round when they selected infielder Henry Godbout 75th overall.
Boston drafted Godbout using a compensatory pick that they received from the San Diego Padres after they signed Nick Pivetta. By doing so, the Padres forfeited their second-round pick, which transferred to Boston.
Godbout is an infielder out of the University of Virginia who played mostly at second base, but he has plenty of experience playing at third base and shortstop as well.
The Red Sox are hoping to utilize Godbout as both a second baseman and shortstop, according to the team director of scouting, Devin Pearson, who says they see Godbout as an athlete who’ll be able to do both.
“Really good instincts, really good action. They shift a lot at Virginia but he’s able to cover a lot of ground and has worked both sides of the bag. We’re betting on the athlete here to be able to do both. … makes a ton of contact, super athletic and fits our development strengths in terms of being able to tap into some more power.”
Red Sox Pick Henry Godbout Reveals Lifelong Connection to Boston
After the Red Sox drafted him, Godbout took to his social media to share his excitement of getting his name called in the MLB Draft. On Instagram, he posted a photo of himself as a child wearing a Red Sox hat and shirt at Fenway Park in 2007 when he was three years old.
Henry Godbout’s IG story:
— 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐙𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 (@thebrizi) July 14, 2025
Just drafted 75th overall by the Red Sox. pic.twitter.com/plL3nYYtBJ
Over the years, Godbout played in Vermont and in the Cape Cod League, so Boston always had a close eye on him, according to Pearson.
“Even in high school, we really liked him in high school. He played in Vermont for the Lake Monsters so we saw him there. He was just a guy we always kinda liked, then obviously with [Kyle] Teel, we’ve seen him a lot in college. Teel has told him what it’s like here. There’s definitely a Teel connection there, for sure.”
Godbout logged 50 games this past season, hitting .309 with 59 hits, 35 runs, 37 RBI, 10 doubles, one triple, eight home runs, six stolen bases, and a .895 OPS.
The Red Sox drafted 21 players in the 2025 MLB Draft, selecting 15 pitchers, four infielders, and two outfielders. Godbout was the first non-pitcher that Boston drafted.
One last note. ESPN’s MLB insider Kiley McDaniel said that Godbout is a player who has the potential to play every day.
“Henry Godbout, No. 75 overall, medium tools and good skills. A position player with low-end-every-day potential. The development-focused Red Sox org seems to zero in on traits to be optimized rather than looking to high schoolers for upside as they did not take a prep player until the 19th round.”