Blog 8

Moore, K. [@KatieMo61]. (2024, April 16). [Photograph]. X. https://x.com/KatieMo61/status/1926690378595315853/photo/2 

By NateTalksSox

June 6, 2025 | Worcester, MA

WORCESTER- As Ryan Noda sat in his home in Salt Lake City, Utah, watching his wife work, he received a call from his agent. “Just be ready for the next couple of hours,” his agent said. Sure enough, a few hours later, Noda got another call—this time from the Los Angeles Angels—informing him he had been traded to the Boston Red Sox.

“It’s not the first time I’ve been traded,” said Noda. “The first time for me was in 2021 on the second day of spring training when I went from Florida all the way to Glendale, Arizona. So I had to do it again which was no big deal.”

Noda reflected on the toughest part of being traded, saying, “Just leaving the boys that you meet along the way. I would say that’s the hardest part every time you get traded.”

While it was tough leaving behind his teammates and friends, he was also excited to join the Red Sox organization.

“Coming to an organization like the Red Sox is heartwarming for sure.”

This isn’t Noda’s first experience in Massachusetts, either. He previously played in the Cape Cod Baseball League—first with the YD Red Sox in 2015, where he won a CCBL championship, and again in 2016 with the Brewster Whitecaps.

“I loved it out here. It feels like home and is natural for me.”

Joining a new team can be a challenge for many players, but Noda’s connection to fellow Cincinnati alumn and former Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis has made the transition a bit smoother.

“{Youk} is the man. Going to Cincinnati, he came and visited so I got to talk to him a little bit and we stayed in touch. In 2023 I got to see him when they came out to Oakland when he was on the call. It was nice to catch up with him and talk to him a lot. I have all the respect in the world for {Youk} and how he went about his business in the game.”

Like his friend Kevin Youkilis, Noda is also a first baseman. The Red Sox have struggled at the position this season, especially following the injury to Triston Casas.

The Volo, Illinois native has been settling in quickly since joining the Worcester Red Sox. In just ten games, Noda has tallied 11 hits—including two doubles and a home run—while posting a .367 batting average and a 1.009 OPS. Those numbers are starting to turn heads within the organization, and Noda hopes to continue dominating Triple-A in pursuit of another shot in the big leagues with Boston. For now, though, his focus remains simple: keep playing baseball.

“{I just have to} Keep improving and stay consistent. I’ve had a good couple of weeks so just keeping it going and keeping the mindset how it is now. I just have to go out there and see ball, hit ball. Do a job when you need to do a job. Get on base and play phenomenal defense. Keep doing that and whatever happens, happens.”

Noda’s last major league appearance came with the Oakland Athletics on September 22, 2024. Although he hasn’t yet been called up to a big-league roster this season, he’s determined to earn another opportunity—and he’s especially motivated by the chance to do it with a storied franchise like the Boston Red Sox.

“The Red Sox organization is such a unique and historic organization and that’s who I’d like to play for.”