The Boston Red Sox are targeting left-hander Alec Gamboa for a 40-man roster move after his standout run in the KBO and time in the Los Angeles Dodgers system, according to a report by MassLive Red Sox beat writer Chris Cotillo.
Cotillo later reported that Gamboa was activated after left reliever Danny Coulombe was placed on the injured list with what the team described as cervical spasms. That puts Gamboa in line for his MLB debut nearly seven years after he was drafted.
An assignment clause in Gamboa’s contract triggered on May 1, and with another organization already reportedly expressing interest in the 29-year-old lefty, Boston now faces a direct choice. The team can add Gamboa to the 40-man or lose him to a rival, according to WHDH TV’s Ari Alexander. Gamboa, a former Dodgers draft pick who revived his career overseas with the Lotte Giants of the Korean Baseball Organization, brings a five-pitch mix and emerging bullpen upside—giving Boston a low-risk, high-variance arm with a clearer path to the majors than most minor-league depth options.
With the clause already triggered, the Red Sox may not have the luxury of waiting much longer.
Gamboa’s Road to a Red Sox 40-Man Spot
Gamboa’s path to the verge of a roster spot has been anything but conventional. A multi-sport standout at Madera High School in California’s Central Valley and undefeated on the mound his senior year with a 1.18 ERA, he pitched for Fresno State before his scholarship was pulled after he failed to meet academic requirements.
“I was disappointed in myself,” Gamboa said, as quoted by L.A. Dodger Talk. “I disappointed a lot of friends and family.”
He transferred to Fresno City College, where Tommy John surgery then shelved him for 719 days.
When Gamboa returned in February 2019 after nearly two years away, the results silenced any doubts. He went 8-1 with a 1.97 ERA and 0.94 WHIP across 64 innings for the Fresno City Rams, punching out 97 batters against just 14 walks. The Dodgers brought him in for a workout at Dodger Stadium, liked what they saw, and took him in the ninth round that June.
“Extremely tough, hard-nosed kid, four-pitch mix, good arm action delivery,” Dodgers evaluator Billy Gasparino said of Gamboa, according to LA Dodger Talk. “We were excited for that one.”
Los Angeles kept him in their organization for six seasons, promoting him all the way to Triple-A Oklahoma City, but never gave him his major league debut. Boston signed him to a minor league split deal last December, with Will Sammon of The Athletic first reporting the agreement. The deal pays Gamboa $925,000 if he reaches the majors.
What Alec Gamboa’s KBO Numbers Mean for Boston Red Sox Bullpen
Gamboa’s KBO numbers are hard to ignore. In 19 starts with the Lotte Giants, Gamboa held opposing lineups to a .236 average, struck out 117 batters against just 49 walks, and covered 108 innings—finishing with a 3.58 ERA supported by a 3.47 FIP, according to Brendan Campbell of Blogging the Red Sox. A matching FIP confirms it.
The arsenal backs it up. Earlier in 2025 at Oklahoma City, Gamboa attacked hitters with a mid-90s four-seam fastball, a lower-90s sinker, an upper-80s slider, a mid-80s changeup, and an upper-70s curveball—a diverse enough arsenal to project as a legitimate left-handed relief option at the next level.
Adding Gamboa to the 40-man, if it happens, keeps a pitcher who has drawn outside interest in the organization, as Cotillo reported. Gamboa has yet to make his MLB debut after six seasons in the Dodgers system. The 40-man addition, forced by his assignment clause, would put him on the most direct path of his career to that first big league appearance.
Gamboa made two appearances for the Red Sox in spring training, but failed to impress, allowing three runs on five hits in two innings. Nonetheless, whether Boston acts now or risks losing him, Gamboa’s path to the majors suddenly looks closer than ever.
Red Sox Make Pitching Decision With Ex-KBO Lefty Alec Gamboa