Frederick Alfred "Rick" Porcello III (born December 27, 1988), is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Detroit Tigers. He won the 2016 American League Cy Young award with the Red Sox.

Porcello was drafted 27th overall in the first round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft by the Tigers. His choice of sports agent Scott Boras to advise him may have scared away some teams, knocking him down to the 27th spot even though he was ranked No. 1 among high school prospects entering the draft. Porcello had been described as an "ace" who could be a "bona fide No. 1 starter." He was also known as a "special" pitcher. His manager, Jim Leyland, later chose to start him in the 2009 American League Central tie-breaker game over Nate Robertson, Eddie Bonine, and Armando Galarraga. In 2009, he was the youngest player in the American League.

Porcello graduated from Seton Hall Preparatory School in West Orange, New Jersey in 2007. In his senior season, he compiled a 10–0 record with 103 strikeouts and a 1.44 ERA in 63 innings pitched. He threw a perfect game on May 12, 2007 against Newark Academy. Porcello had only given up multiple hits once in a game to one player (Jon Serrano) in his high school career (in the 2nd round Greater Newark Tournament during the Seton Hall Prep vs Belleville game).

Although Porcello signed a letter of intent to attend the University of North Carolina, he later declined in order to pursue his professional career in Major League Baseball. Porcello was signed by the Detroit Tigers to a $7.28 million, four-year deal with two one-year options. The total contract is worth $11.1 million, making Porcello the highest-paid high schooler ever. He also received a $3.5 million signing bonus, the second-largest ever given out by the Tigers, surpassed only by the $3.55 million given to 2006 first round pick Andrew Miller.

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