BOSTON, Mass. - Former South Alabama Jaguar and left-handed reliever Tyler Samaniego earned the nod to the big leagues, the Boston Red Sox announced on Wednesday. He is the 29th Jaguar to make an MLB Debut in program history. Samaniego entered in the eighth inning on the same day he was called up and struck out the side against the Milwaukee Brewers on April 8 at Fenway Park.


Samaniego spent the 2020 and 2021 season with the Jaguars, leading the team in saves his senior season (7), which included a six-out save to close the door on Miami at the 2021 Gainesville NCAA Regional in two innings of hitless work.


The hard-throwing southpaw was selected in the 15th round of the 2021 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates, being one of three Jaguars selected that year (Ethan Wilson - 2nd round, Philadelphia Phillies; Michael Sandle, 10th round, Houston Astros).


Samaniego made five appearances in Single-A in 2021 for a 1-0 record and 1.29 ERA across seven innings, before spending 2022-2024 with Pittsburgh Double-A affiliate, the Altoona Curve. In 2022, he was named the Pirates' Kent Tekulve Reliever of the Year.


The Huntsville, Alabama native was part of a package deal between the Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates in 2025 that sent Samaniego to Boston following a strong Spring Training performance.


After owning a 3.82 ERA across 158.0 IP in 127 career minor league games with two starts, Samaniego made his Major League debut at Fenway Park the same day he got the call on April 8 and did not disappoint, by striking out the side against the Milwaukee Brewers in the top of the eighth.


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