The Boston Red Sox made one of the more random signings you could imagine on Thursday.
They purchased the contract of a 6-foot-7 pitcher with a double-digit ERA from the Frontier League’s New York Boulders.
Yep, you can read that again. Those are all the correct words, for real.
The Boulders are an independent league team in the Frontier League, regarded by most as the second best independent league around.
The pitcher is 6-foot-7 PJ Labriola.
Labriola played his first three college seasons at Clemson, then closed out his NCAA baseball tenure at North Carolina State.
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In his two seasons with the Wolfpack, Labriola had an 8.58 ERA.
Last year, he put up a 6.00 ERA across time with the Frederick Keys and the Rocky Mountain Vibes.
And this year so far with the Boulders, Labriola had allowed four runs across three innings.
So why did the Red Sox sign him?
He was full of intrigue at the Tread Athletics pro day in January. At the showcase, Labriola sat mid-90s with his fastball and threw a sharp, 86mph slider.
Labriola is being assigned to the complex league to begin his tenure with hopes of soon getting up to A-ball. He’ll turn 25 in November.
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