Cam Booser appears to be moving closer to securing a spot on the Boston Red Sox’s Opening Day roster. Despite lacking MLB experience, the 31-year-old left-hander has garnered praise from manager Alex Cora.
Cora commended Booser’s current performance, stating that he is throwing the ball well. During a press briefing before a game against the Atlanta Braves, Cora mentioned Booser alongside other notable performers this spring, including Brennan Bernardino, Chris Murphy, Joely Rodriguez, and Jorge Benitez. While Bernardino and Murphy are part of Boston’s 40-man roster and Rodriguez signed a minor-league deal in late February, both Benitez and Booser are non-roster options.
Booser has impressed Cora with his pitching, having allowed only two runs in eight innings this spring. Cora highlighted Booser’s fastball velocity, which reaches up to 99 mph, and his ability to consistently throw off-speed pitches for strikes. Cora noted that Booser showed improvement in the second half of the previous season under the guidance of Worcester Red Sox manager Chad Tracy, which has continued into spring training.
In 2023, Booser signed a minor league deal with Boston and played for Triple-A Worcester, where he posted a 4.99 ERA in 48 appearances. However, he notably improved his performance in the latter part of the season, recording a 3.30 ERA in 30 innings pitched after July.
