Red Sox Player Spotlight: Greg Rapp

Position: Relief Pitcher / Pitching Coach
Hometown: Cambridge, Ontario
Bats/Throws: Right/Left
Height/Weight: 6'2", 205 lbs
CBL Experience: 2 Seasons

Athletic Background

For Greg Rapp, the 2026 season with the Brantford Red Sox represents much more than another summer at the ballpark — it is an opportunity to continue a baseball career he once thought was over.

The Cambridge, Ontario native played college baseball before suffering a torn lat that brought his collegiate career to an unexpected end and cost him an opportunity to continue playing in Florida. Rapp eventually stepped away from competitive baseball and built a career outside the sport, but years later, the opportunity to return to the game opened a new chapter.

Rapp joined the Brantford Red Sox during the 2025 season before returning in 2026 as the league entered its first season under the Canadian Baseball League name. This year has given him the opportunity not only to compete on the mound, but also to share his experience with the rest of Brantford's pitching staff as the team's pitching coach.

2026 Season Stats

Appearances: 7
Record: 0-0
Innings Pitched: 8.0
Strikeouts: 6
Walks: 4
ERA: 12.38
WHIP: 2.25
Strikeouts per Nine Innings: 6.75

Player and Coach

Rapp has taken on a unique dual role for the Red Sox this season, contributing both on the mound and from the dugout.

As a left-handed reliever, he has made seven appearances for Brantford, pitching eight innings and recording six strikeouts. His experience provides the Red Sox with another option out of the bullpen when called upon.

But his impact on the 2026 club extends well beyond his own innings.

As Brantford's pitching coach, Rapp works alongside a staff featuring a mix of starters, relievers, younger arms and players with professional experience. His role allows him to take what he has learned throughout his own baseball journey and use it to help the Red Sox pitching staff prepare, adjust and compete.

It's a perspective few coaches can offer quite like Rapp can — when he talks to a pitcher about competing on the mound, he knows exactly what they're experiencing because he can still be called from the bullpen himself.

A Second Chance at the Game

Rapp's path to the Red Sox makes his time in Brantford particularly meaningful.

After believing his competitive playing days were behind him, he returned to the sport years later and eventually earned the opportunity to play professionally when the CBL adopted its new professional structure for 2026.

In an interview with TVO earlier this season, Rapp described the opportunity as a chance to rewrite the ending of his baseball story. At 35, he was finally able to achieve something he once believed had passed him by — becoming a professional baseball player.

Now, he's helping the next generation of Red Sox pitchers write their own stories as well.

Why He's One to Watch

Greg Rapp's impact on the Brantford Red Sox can't be measured solely by his pitching statistics.

Whether he's taking the mound himself, working with a pitcher between innings, helping prepare the staff for its next opponent, or offering guidance from the dugout, Rapp brings a unique combination of playing experience and coaching leadership to the club.

His journey back to competitive baseball is also a reminder that there isn't always one path through the game.

From thinking his playing career was over to becoming both a professional pitcher and pitching coach with the Red Sox, #11 Greg Rapp continues to make his mark on Brantford baseball from both sides of the foul line.