FORT MYERS, Fla. — Red Sox pitcher Quinn Priester and his fiancée share a love for cooking, a passion that came in handy this offseason when Boston asked him to bulk up. “Cooking is something I’m really passionate about off the field,” Priester said at JetBlue Park on Wednesday. “My fiancée and I love making homemade pasta, sourdough bread, and even our own butter. She makes this amazing vodka sauce pasta, and I love grilling steaks.”
The Red Sox wanted Priester to add weight to improve his durability and velocity, and he embraced the challenge. Manager Alex Cora has already noticed a difference, saying Priester looks “a lot stronger.” The right-hander, who will start for Boston against the Tigers on Thursday, aimed to consume 4,000-5,000 calories daily and gained about 10 pounds this offseason.
Acquired from the Pirates at the 2024 trade deadline in exchange for Nick Yorke, Priester is one of Boston’s top depth starters. With Kutter Crawford expected to start the season on the injured list, Priester has a chance to make the Opening Day roster. The Red Sox are also monitoring Brayan Bello (shoulder soreness) and Lucas Giolito (returning from elbow surgery), making Priester’s role even more critical.
To add muscle, Priester worked with Cressey Sports Performance, focusing on traditional exercises like squats and lunges, as well as movement-specific drills. He also maintained a strict diet, eating three meals and drinking two protein shakes daily to hit his calorie goals. “The Red Sox staff helped me realize that if I don’t get all my calories from meals, it’s not a big deal,” Priester said. “Adding shakes made it easier to hit 1,500 calories without stressing about overeating.”
Priester’s offseason regimen wasn’t all gourmet cooking—he also relied on snacks like Cheez-It crackers to boost his calorie intake. “Calories are calories,” he joked. “Especially in the offseason, we’re just trying to put on weight and make it stable.”
The added weight and muscle should help Priester improve his durability and velocity. “Mass and height create potential energy,” he explained. “Moving that mass down the mound without changing much mechanically can add power and velocity.”
Priester also refined his mechanics, bringing his hand closer to his ear during his delivery, which helped increase his fastball velocity. In his final start for Triple-A Worcester last season, his sinker averaged 94.1 mph, topping out at 96.5 mph—a significant jump from his 93.0 mph average with the Pirates. He capped the season with a strong outing for Boston, allowing just one run in five innings.
The Red Sox emphasized that the real improvements would come during the offseason, and Priester delivered. He focused on his cutter, a relatively new pitch for him, while his slider and curveball also showed promise. “I really like all my secondary pitches,” Priester said. “The slider works best against righties, the changeup against lefties, and the curveball can be effective against both. The cutter is coming along nicely, too.”
Priester enjoys diving into analytics but also appreciates the art of pitching, citing Pedro Martinez as an inspiration. “Pedro didn’t need analytics to dominate—he just competed,” Priester said. “There’s a happy medium between using data and trusting your instincts. The game isn’t played on a computer, but the computer helps you play the game.”
With his improved physique, refined mechanics, and diverse pitch arsenal, Priester is poised to make an impact for the Red Sox in 2025. Whether he starts the season in the rotation or provides depth, his offseason transformation has put him in a strong position to contribute.
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