This past winter, the Boston Red Sox signed rehabbing pitcher Patrick Sandoval. To get him on the 40-man roster, a move would have to be made. That move ultimately led to a fan favorite departing the organization, as Cam Booser was designated for assignment to make room for Sandoval.
Booser has had one of the more interesting career paths in baseball. The Twins signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2013, and he spent four years in the system, making it up to High A before retiring in 2017. He spent four years out of baseball working as a carpenter before returning to independent baseball in 2021. His stint in the Atlantic League in 2021 led to his signing by the Red Sox. He made his major league debut in 2024, appearing in 43 games with a 3.38 ERA.
In the winter of 2024, Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow spent a lot of time on the phone with his counterpart with the Chicago White Sox, Chris Getz. In early December, Breslow traded for Chicago’s ace Garrett Crochet. Ten days after consummating that trade, Breslow and Getz matched up again when Breslow traded Booser to Chicago.
18-Year-Old Yhoiker Fajardo Is Turning Heads in Salem
In return for Booser, the Red Sox received right-handed pitcher Yhoiker Fajardo. Fajardo was signed out of Venezuela by the White Sox in February of 2024. In his first pro season, Fajardo started 13 games in the Dominican Summer League, finishing with a 3.38 ERA and a 64:8 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 50.2 innings. That would earn him an All-Star nod in the DSL.
Fajardo came stateside in 2025, debuting with the FCL Red Sox in May. In six games for the FCL Sox, he gave up a total of three runs in 20.2 innings for a minuscule 0.44 ERA. The start earned him a promotion to Single-A Salem in June. Upon his arrival in Salem, the young righty faced the first adversity of his pro career. He surrendered 13 runs over his first three outings in Salem, but after a start against Lynchburg, something clicked. Over his last three starts, he’s given up just one run in 14.1 innings.
Fajardo has the size that Breslow looks for in a starting pitcher, standing 6’3 and weighing 180lbs. As of now, he has a mix that includes a fastball (both four-seam and two-seam), slider, and a changeup. The four-seam fastball sits in the mid-90s with juice to get up to 97 with the obvious ability to miss a lot of bats. Of his secondary pitches, he relies more on his slider than his changeup. The change is a new pitch for him this year and has already become a bit of an out pitch for him.
Cam Booser was a great story and pitched well in his short time in Boston, but Fajardo is becoming a very interesting lottery ticket. He’s a lottery ticket that is just beginning to scratch the surface, and the best part of his scouting report is that he doesn’t turn 19 until October.