Roniel Raudes

Roniel Antonio Raudes Mesa

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 160 lb.

• Born January 16, 1998 in Granada Nicaragua

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Roniel Raudes has pitched in the minors and for the Nicaraguan national team.

Raudes was signed by Boston Red Sox scouts Rafael Mendoza and Eddie Romero in July 2014. He debuted as a pro the next summer with the DSL Red Sox 1 (4-3, 3.52, 63 K, 3 BB in 53 2/3 IP) and GCL Red Sox (3-0, 0.90). He won game 2 of the Dominican Summer League finals, striking out 7 GCL Blue Jays in five shutout innings. He was already up to full-season ball at age 18 with the Greenville Drive. He was 11-6 with a 3.65 ERA, walking only 23 in 113 1/3 IP. He tied Mike Connolly for third in the South Atlantic League in wins and was also 3rd in the Red Sox chain (behind teammate Logan Boyd and Justin Haley). Baseball America rated him as having the best control in the Red Sox chain.

Roniel was 4-7 with a 4.50 ERA for the 2017 Salem Red Sox. He then was a big part of Nicaragua's run to the Gold at the 2017 Central American Games. He took over for former major leaguer Wilton López in the 6th inning of the opener against El Salvador and pitched 3 hitless innings, fanning five and walking only one, far better than his more distinguished predecessor (8 H, 2 BB, 2 K, 2 R in 5 IP); Jorge Bucardo closed it out. In the Gold Medal Game against Panama, he relieved López in the 6th again, this time with a 2-1 lead. He excelled, allowing one hit and no walks in four shutout frames, whiffing six, for the save.

With the Red Sox for spring training in 2018, he drew attention from the media for his unique wind-up and delivery, coming out of a crouch; a writer for MLB.com described it as "he combines one part interpretative dance with one part "Star Wars" kid, mixed with a healthy dose of those wacky inflatable arms things that car dealerships have."