‘Living the Dream.’ Fresno-area pitcher reaches major leagues with Boston Red Sox
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- He recorded two outs and struck out one on June 8.
- The Red Sox recalled him on June 6 and optioned him back after his appearance.
- The Red Sox signed him to a minor league deal in December 2025.
For the second this spring, former Madera High and Fresno City College standout Alec Gamboa is back on the mound in Major League Baseball.
The Boston Red Sox recalled the left-handed pitcher from Triple-A Worcester on June 6, and he soon was making his second career big-league appearance.
Gamboa made the most of his opportunity June 8 against the Tampa Bay Rays. In short duty, he faced two batters and recorded two outs including a strikeout. Of his six pitches, five were strikes.
Gamboa’s path to MLB has been anything but conventional — and it even took another turn following the impressive appearance last week as the Red Sox optioned him back to Worcester.
Now 29, he was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the ninth round of the 2019 draft then progressed through the organization to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
But with the Dodgers’ pitching staff already loaded with established starters and relievers, he was unable to break through onto the club’s 40-man roster and never received a call-up to the majors (and never pitched at Dodger Stadium, where he attended games as a child cheering for his favorite team).
Seeking a new opportunity, Gamboa was granted a release after the 2024 season at Oklahoma City and he signed with the Lotte Giants of the Korea Baseball Organization.
The move proved to be a turning point.
In 2025, Gamboa enjoyed a strong season in South Korea, highlighted by a 5-0 record in June. He finished the year 7-8 with a 3.58 ERA and 117 strikeouts.
His performance caught the attention of the Red Sox, who signed him to a minor league contract in December 2025.
Gamboa made his MLB debut against the Detroit Tigers earlier this season, pitching a scoreless inning with two strikeouts in front of his emotional parents, who were in the stands.
Given his effectiveness in limited opportunities, it’s likely Gamboa will receive another call-up at some point this season — moving players between Triple-A and the majors is part of the business.
After his latest stint with Boston, Gamboa reflected on his journey with a post on Instagram.
“Living the Dream #MADTOWN,” he wrote.
