Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40 

Back in 2017, Drohan was a high school lefty in Florida with some upside and some helium. A top 100 prospect on MLB Pipeline’s Draft list, the son of former Minor League right-hander Bill Drohan was a two-sport standout who ended up going to Florida State rather than sign with the Phillies, who took him in the 23rd round of the Draft that June. After spending most of his sophomore year as a starter, he was establishing himself as a mainstay in the Seminoles’ weekend rotation this spring.

A successful high school quarterback before turning his complete focus to baseball, Drohan is still learning how to pitch, meaning there’s still ceiling to reach. He’ll touch 95 mph with his fastball at times and sits 92-93 consistently. He hides the ball well and that deception leads to a lot of swings and misses on the pitch. He has the chance to have an above-average curveball, with good three-quarter break to it and his changeup continues to improve.

Drohan’s command comes and goes, but because of his athleticsm, there’s confidence from many scouts that he’ll be able to repeat his delivery and throw more consistent strikes. There’s still a lot to dream on here, giving the southpaw more upside than the typical college pitcher.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Cutter: 40 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

Drohan worked just 72 2/3 innings in three seasons at Florida State because of control woes and the pandemic, but the Red Sox liked him enough to give him third-round money ($600,000) as a fifth-rounder in 2020. The White Sox grabbed him in the 2023 Rule 5 Draft but returned him to Boston after he had nerve decompression surgery on his shoulder the following February. He missed three months with forearm inflammation in 2025 but logged a 2.27 ERA with 67 strikeouts in 47 2/3 innings at Triple-A when healthy, which allowed him to claim a spot on the 40-man roster in November. Three months later, he was traded to the Brewers in a deal that primarily sent Caleb Durbin the other way.

That effectiveness in Triple-A came because Drohan's fastball and slider were better than they had been previously in pro ball. His heater gained a tick in velocity, sitting at 93-94 mph and touching 96, and played better up in the strike zone. His mid-80s slider showed improved action, enabling it to get more chases as well as in-zone swings-and-misses.

Drohan's upper-70s curveball gives him a second solid pitch, though his fading mid-80s changeup regressed and his upper-80s cutter got hammered last season. He cut his walk rate to 8 percent at Triple-A, down from 12 percent earlier in his career, and he thrived by working ahead in the count more often. He still has a ceiling of a back-of-the-rotation starter but now appears to have a greater chance of reaching it.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 45 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

Though Drohan pitched just 72 2/3 innings in three seasons at Florida State because of erratic control and the pandemic, the Red Sox took him with its last pick in the shortened five-round Draft in 2020 and gave him third-round money ($600,000). He led Boston's system with 157 strikeouts in his first full pro season and began his second with a 1.32 ERA in six Double-A starts, but then got crushed in Triple-A and was left off the 40-man roster. He had a good chance to make the White Sox after they snagged him in the Rule 5 Draft in December but had nerve decompression surgery on his shoulder in late February.

Drohan's changeup has gone from his third-best pitch in college to a plus pitch in pro ball, a low-80s offering with late fade that he sells with deceptive arm speed. It helps him survive with a fringy 91-93 mph fastball that tops out at 95 with some sink and run. Neither of his breaking balls does much against same-side hitters, with his mid-70s curveball grading slightly better than his mid-80s slider/cutter.

While Drohan has done a better job of translating his athleticism into strikes since turning pro, his control still is fringy. He tried to nibble too much in Triple-A, fell behind in the count and got hammered when he had to come over the plate. A possible No. 5 starter but more likely a multi-inning reliever, he can't be sent to the Minors in 2024 without clearing waivers and getting offered back to the Red Sox for half of his $100,000 Rule 5 price tag.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 45 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40 

Though he was a high-profile recruit, Drohan worked just 73 2/3 innings in three seasons at Florida State because of control issues and the pandemic. Boston took him with its final pick in the shortened five-round Draft in 2020 and signed him for $600,000, the equivalent of late third-round money. He topped the system in strikeouts (157) and strikeout rate (10.9 per nine innings) in his first full pro season in 2022 but the Red Sox didn't add him to their 40-man roster after he got rocked in Triple-A this year, allowing the White Sox to grab him in the Rule 5 Draft.

Drohan's changeup was his third-best pitch in college but now is his top offering in pro ball, as he delivers his low-80s cambio with deceptive arm speed and its late fade keeps hitters off balance. It works well with his fastball, which sits at 91-93 mph and tops out at 95, playing up a bit with its sink and run. His mid-70s curveball and mid-80s slider/cutter are average breaking pitches but neither is effective against same-side hitters.  

Drohan has done a better job of translating his athleticism into strikes as a pro, though his control is still just average at best. His lack of overpowering stuff leaves him little margin for error, and he'll have to do a better job of commanding his arsenal to succeed against more advanced hitters. A potential back-of-the-rotation starter, he'll have to stick on Chicago's big league roster throughout 2024 or else be subjected to waivers and offered back to Boston for half of the $100,000 Rule 5 fee.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 45 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40 

Highly touted as a Florida high schooler, Drohan pitched just 73 2/3 innings in three seasons at Florida State because of control woes and the pandemic. Boston's fifth-round and final pick in the shortened 2020 Draft, he signed for $600,000, the equivalent of late third-round money. Thanks to a vastly improved changeup, he advanced to Double-A while leading Red Sox farmhands in strikeouts (157) and strikeout rate (10.9 per nine innings) in 2022. 

Drohan's changeup has gone from his third-best pitch in college to his top weapon as a pro. He sells his low-80s cambio with deceptive arm speed and its late action keeps hitters off balance. It pairs well with his fastball, which has below-average velocity in the low 90s but sneaks by batters with carry and armside run up in the strike zone. 

Drohan also possesses an average mid-70s curveball with more depth than power, though it didn't lead to much success against same-side hitters last season. He's athletic and throwing more strikes than he did with the Seminoles, but his control is just average. He has a ceiling as a back-of-the-rotation starter and could wind up as a multi-inning reliever.

Awards

Futures Game Selection

Year	Team
2023

EAS Pitcher of the Month

Month	Team
04/2023

EAS Pitcher of the Week

Week	Team
04/16/2023

MiLB.com Organization All-Star

Year	Team
2022
2021

CAR Pitcher of the Week

Week	Team
08/01/2021

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	02/09/2026	Boston Red Sox traded LHP Kyle Harrison, LHP Shane Drohan and 2B David Hamilton to Milwaukee Brewers for 3B Caleb Durbin, SS Andruw Monasterio, 2B Anthony Seigler and Future Considerations.
	11/18/2025	Boston Red Sox selected the contract of LHP Shane Drohan from Worcester Red Sox.
	08/26/2025	Worcester Red Sox activated LHP Shane Drohan from the 60-day injured list.
	08/26/2025	Worcester Red Sox activated LHP Shane Drohan from the 60-day injured list.
	08/12/2025	Worcester Red Sox sent LHP Shane Drohan on a rehab assignment to Greenville Drive.
	07/09/2025	Worcester Red Sox transferred LHP Shane Drohan from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.
	07/09/2025	Worcester Red Sox transferred LHP Shane Drohan from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. Left forearm inflammation.
	05/13/2025	Worcester Red Sox placed LHP Shane Drohan on the 7-day injured list. Left forearm inflammation.
	02/22/2025	LHP Shane Drohan assigned to Boston Red Sox.
	09/24/2024	Worcester Red Sox activated LHP Shane Drohan from the 7-day injured list.
	08/21/2024	Worcester Red Sox placed LHP Shane Drohan on the 7-day injured list.
	08/12/2024	Worcester Red Sox activated LHP Shane Drohan.
	08/12/2024	Worcester Red Sox placed LHP Shane Drohan on the 7-day injured list. Left shoulder inflammation.
	06/14/2024	Worcester Red Sox transferred LHP Shane Drohan to the Development List.
	06/12/2024	LHP Shane Drohan returned to Boston Red Sox from Chicago White Sox.
	06/12/2024	LHP Shane Drohan assigned to Worcester Red Sox.
	06/09/2024	Chicago White Sox activated LHP Shane Drohan from the 60-day injured list.
	06/09/2024	Chicago White Sox designated LHP Shane Drohan for assignment.
	05/28/2024	Chicago White Sox sent LHP Shane Drohan on a rehab assignment to Charlotte Knights.
	05/28/2024	Chicago White Sox sent LHP Shane Drohan on a rehab assignment to Charlotte Knights.
	05/28/2024	Chicago White Sox sent LHP Shane Drohan on a rehab assignment to Charlotte Knights.
	05/21/2024	Chicago White Sox sent LHP Shane Drohan on a rehab assignment to Winston-Salem Dash.
	05/03/2024	Chicago White Sox sent LHP Shane Drohan on a rehab assignment to ACL White Sox.
	03/28/2024	Chicago White Sox placed LHP Shane Drohan on the 60-day injured list. Left shoulder nerve decompression surgery.
	12/06/2023	Chicago White Sox drafted LHP Shane Drohan.
	09/25/2023	Worcester Red Sox activated LHP Shane Drohan.
	09/19/2023	Worcester Red Sox transferred LHP Shane Drohan to the Development List.
	09/12/2023	Worcester Red Sox activated LHP Shane Drohan.
	09/04/2023	Worcester Red Sox transferred LHP Shane Drohan to the Development List.
	07/07/2023	American League Futures activated LHP Shane Drohan.
	05/18/2023	LHP Shane Drohan assigned to Worcester Red Sox from Portland Sea Dogs.
	08/16/2022	LHP Shane Drohan assigned to Portland Sea Dogs from Greenville Drive.
	08/16/2022	Portland Sea Dogs activated LHP Shane Drohan.
	08/16/2022	Portland Sea Dogs activated LHP Shane Drohan.
	04/05/2022	LHP Shane Drohan assigned to Greenville Drive from Salem Red Sox.
	05/04/2021	LHP Shane Drohan assigned to Salem Red Sox from GCL Red Sox.
	07/17/2020	Boston Red Sox signed LHP Shane Drohan.
	07/17/2020	LHP Shane Drohan assigned to GCL Red Sox.
	06/12/2019	LHP Shane Drohan assigned to Florida State Seminoles.
	04/19/2018	LHP Shane Drohan assigned to Florida State Seminoles.