Red Sox pitching prospect Juan Valera exits start with elbow inflammation

Right-hander Juan Valera, one of the top pitching prospects for the Boston Red Sox, exited his start on Thursday for the High-A Greenville Drive in the second inning with elbow inflammation, according to a team source.Valera, who threw 22 pitches in the first inning, threw a warm up pitch to open the second before exiting the game. A team source said it was not immediately clear the extent of the injury. Joey Gartrell replaces the injured Valera and K's 2 in his first inning after being pressed into service! pic.twitter.com/cMUG74PEmp — Greenville Drive (@GreenvilleDrive) April 16, 2026The 19-year-old is currently ranked as the No. 7 prospect in the Red Sox system, according to The Athletic’s Keith Law.Advertisement