​The Boston Red Sox selected Kaleb LaFavor, a 6-foot-7 right-hander from Iowa, with the 304th overall pick in the 10th round of the draft, a choice that drew immediate comparisons to Milwaukee Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski. While such a parallel sets high expectations, it also charges Red Sox fans with excitement about the potential for a lanky pitcher to blossom with velocity reminiscent of Miz’s.
LaFavor is a high school pitcher whose frame and projection have drawn attention. His tall, slender build mirrors Misiorowski’s early profile, and scouts have noted that at this stage a longer levered frame can translate into significant upside. MLB.com’s draft blurb explains that LaFavor’s unique size has intrigued evaluators this spring, despite Iowa’s high school season extending deep into July, which limited his visibility on the showcase circuit last summer. As the spring progressed, his 6-foot-7 frame and delivery metrics drew more scouting attention, prompting comparisons to Misiorowski at the same echelon of Midwest prep careers, albeit with tempered expectations that LaFavor might not ascend as rapidly.
LaFavor’s fastball can reach the mid-90s early in games, typically settling in at 90-93 with some armside run and carry. His slider operates in the low-80s with sweeping action, and he can occasionally channel that breaking ball into an upper-80s cutter. He also demonstrates the ability to throw an upper-70s changeup with fade, showing a willingness to mix his offerings. In terms of mechanics, LaFavor uses his size to generate extension, which creates a lengthy plane that can be challenging for hitters. MLB.com notes that his delivery produces roughly seven feet of extension due to his motion and a relatively low arm slot, which contributes to deception and a wide-angle look from hitters at the plate.
However, there are caveats. Some scouts have concerns about LaFavor’s long arm action, the effort in his delivery, and a crossfire tendency, all of which can complicate repeatability. He’s still maturing physically and needs to add strength to improve his ability to repeat mechanics and locate consistently. Even so, MLB.com notes that LaFavor already shows more polish than Misiorowski did as a high school senior, suggesting a higher floor even as the ceiling remains tantalizingly high.
Development for a pitcher with such a long lever is rarely linear. LaFavor’s path will likely involve refining his mechanics, improving command and consistency, and adding strength to withstand the demands of a professional workload. If he can approach the ceiling some evaluators envision, he could become a standout mound presence at the professional level. Boston’s gamble at this stage of the draft reflects a belief in the upside of a 6-foot-7 right-hander whose tools, when blended with continued refinement, could yield a dynamic addition to the Red Sox’ system.
As the Red Sox look toward the next steps of LaFavor’s journey, the emphasis will be on procedural development: fine-tuning his delivery, building stamina, and sharpening his pitch command in instructional settings and through minor league assignments. The hope is that his size, velocity, and projection translate into a pitcher who can repeatedly execute strikes, maintain rhythm on the mound, and progress through the system with a trajectory reminiscent of some of the most successful tall-righty arms in the game.
In the broader context of Red Sox drafting trends, LaFavor’s selection adds to a growing emphasis on size, arm strength, and upside among amateur pitchers. If his development aligns with the expectations attached to his frame, his progression could become a pivotal storyline for Boston’s farm system and potentially for the major-league club in the years ahead. As with any high-upside pick, the focus will be on how well he translates raw tools into repeatable performance, and whether his growth trajectory can match or exceed the early comparisons being drawn to Misiorowski.