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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 11, 2023 16:50:18 GMT -5
Cardinals @ Red Sox Friday, 12th May 2023 7pm @ Fenway
Wainright 0-0/7.20
Paxton ( Debut)
James Paxton to end 2-year MLB absence as Red Sox host Cards FLM
Left-handed pitcher James Paxton is scheduled to make his long-awaited debut for the Boston Red Sox on Friday night when they open a three-game series against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals.
The Red Sox signed Paxton in December 2021 and he spent the 2022 season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. He began this season on the injured list because of a hamstring injury he suffered during spring training.
Paxton has a 57-33 career record, but hasn't started in a major league game since April 6, 2021, when he was with the Seattle Mariners. He has been limited to six MLB starts since the end of the 2019 season.
Paxton's deal with the Red Sox guaranteed him $6 million in 2022 while he was recovering from surgery, and included an option to return in 2023 for $4 million.
"Last year he was very close to contributing and it didn't happen," Boston manager Alex Cora told reporters. "Obviously, in the offseason, a lot of people thought he was going to opt out and he decided to stay here. He has been working hard. It was a weird offseason, spring training, too, but happy for him that he's going to be able to perform.
"You guys know how I feel. He can throw six innings of scoreless baseball or he can give it up. It really doesn't matter. It's about him being able to compete at this level. That's the most important thing. After that, we'll go from there."
Paxton, 34, has a 1-0 record with a 4.09 ERA in two career starts (11 innings) against the Cardinals.
St. Louis will counter with right-hander Adam Wainwright (0-0, 7.20 ERA), who has been battling injury problems as well. Wainwright, who is in his 19th season, didn't pitch at the major league level in April because of a groin strain he sustained while working out during the World Baseball Classic.
The 41-year-old allowed four runs and eight hits in five-plus innings against Detroit during his season debut Saturday. He struck out five and didn't walk a batter. He exited the mound with St. Louis leading 5-4, but the Tigers prevailed 6-5 in 10 innings.
Wainright is 1-1 with a 4.05 ERA in two career starts against the Red Sox.
He went 11-12 with a 3.71 ERA last season, but had a 2-3 record with a 7.22 ERA in his final six starts and allowed at least four runs in five of those six outings. He did not pitch in the Cardinals' wild-card series against Philadelphia.
Wainwright said he contemplated retirement in the offseason before deciding to return for what he called his final MLB season.
"I do tend to think the way the season ended led even more to me coming back, because I just didn't like that," Wainwright said when he announced he was returning on Oct. 26. "I don't like going out like that. I wasn't performing like I know I should have been performing. Wasn't helping the team like I knew I should have been helping the team. We didn't win."
St. Louis had its three-game winning streak end with a 10-4 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday, while the Red Sox snapped a two-game losing streak by beating Atlanta 5-2. Both clubs had a day off Thursday.
--Field Level Media
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 11, 2023 16:52:03 GMT -5
SP Probables
Friday, 7:10 p.m. ET — RHP Adam Wainwright (0-0, 7.20 ERA) vs. LHP James Paxton (2023 debut)
Saturday, 4:10 p.m. ET — LHP Steven Matz (0-4, 5.70 ERA) vs. LHP Chris Sale (3-2, 6.37 ERA)
Sunday, 7:10 p.m. ET — RHP Miles Mikolas (1-1, 5.40 ERA) vs. RHP Corey Kluber (2-4, 6.29 ERA)
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 11, 2023 16:59:59 GMT -5
Tom Caron (blue checkmark redacted) @tomcaron · 3m Sox open up a 6-game homestand at Fenway tomorrow night. James Paxton makes his long-awaited Red Sox debut. Sox have gone 7-2 in May and have moved up to 3rd in the AL East. Even the naysayers - there were plenty - are admitting this team is fun to watch. See you tomorrow night!
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 11, 2023 17:04:02 GMT -5
The road back to the mound for James Paxton 4:07 PM ADT Ian Browne
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne
BOSTON -- For James Paxton, 765 days will have ticked off the calendar between Major League appearances when the lefty makes his long-awaited return on Friday night in what will be his debut for the Red Sox at Fenway Park against the Cardinals.
Paxton, who tore the ulnar collateral ligament in the second inning of his short-lived return to the Mariners on April 6, 2021, underwent Tommy John surgery a week later.
It normally doesn’t take over two years for a pitcher to return from Tommy John surgery. The standard recovery is 12 to 18 months.
But as Paxton rehabbed his elbow, a series of other annoying injuries piled up while he was trying to build back up for a stretch run return for the Red Sox in ‘22 that never materialized.
And the final dagger took place on his first start of this season’s Spring Training. Paxton was throwing 95 mph in his Grapefruit League debut against the Twins. An inning later, he suffered a right hamstring strain. There went his goal of starting the season on the Opening Day roster.
“It was hard,” said Paxton. “Because I was doing fantastic. I felt awesome, my body felt great. And then, you know, that happens. It was like, ‘Really, again?’ It was just like, ‘all right, let's do this. I know how to do this. I know what I’ve got to do.’
“It was either keep on going or hang up my spikes and I wasn’t going to hang up my spikes. I put my head down, got back to work and I’m really happy to be back in the place I am right now.”
The man known in baseball circles as “Big Maple” admits that there were times over the last two years when he wondered if he’d make it back.
“Oh, yeah, absolutely,” said Paxton. “I rehab my elbow, and then it was the lat, and then it was the hamstring, and it was like, ‘Is my body going to let me do this?’ I wanted it so bad. I just kept on going and putting one foot in front of the other.”
On Friday night, his feet will be planted on the mound of Fenway Park for what has been an elusive 138th career start.
“I was telling somebody the other day that it feels like my debut all over again,” Paxton said. “It feels like a really long road. But you know, being back where I am right now with this opportunity on Friday, it's all been worth it to get back out there.”
Chris Sale went through a similar road of repeated health setbacks. After a rocky start to the season, Sale has thrived in three of his last four starts. He is a resource for Paxton and a source of inspiration.
“It's been awesome to watch him and see him put it all back together and have success and look like himself again out there,” said Paxton. “And we've talked a little bit about it, and I've gotten some advice about how to handle it and kind of what it’s like to get back on the big league mound after so long.
“He told me, ‘Breathe.’ That was his advice, was to make sure you remember to breathe. It’s good advice. I'll definitely be taking that into the game with me on Friday.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 12, 2023 4:24:57 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Rookie Enmanuel Valdez makes most of opportunity to show Red Sox he can produce as second baseman By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated May 11, 2023, 6:08 p.m.
ATLANTA — If he continues to produce, he has a chance at sticking in the big leagues.
That’s not a bold take when it comes to Red Sox rookie Enmanuel Valdez, who has gotten off to a hot start in his first taste of major league competition.
In 13 games, Valdez is hitting .317/.349/.463 with three doubles and a home run. He has claimed the everyday role at second base with Christian Arroyo on the injured list with a cranky hamstring.
The bat was always supposed to play. It’s the main reason the Red Sox were attracted to the 24-year-old when they sent catcher Christian Vázquez to the Astros at last season’s trade deadline for Valdez and outfield prospect Wilyer Abreu.
Valdez has looked comfortable from Day 1 in his at-bats. His presence at the plate is one of self-assurance, of knowing that he belongs. He can spray the ball to all fields, carrying a line-drive approach along with the ability to hit the ball out of the park.
“It starts with the work, really,” Valdez said through a team translator Wednesday. “I know I got off to a tough start in Triple A, but I was making good contact. I just wasn’t getting the hits to go along with it. So I stuck with it. And, thankfully, up here, those solid contacts that I was making are landing as hits.
“I hope to stay in the same rhythm and keep with the same, the same work that I’ve been putting in.”
No doubt, opposing pitching staffs will adjust. Scouting reports will mount and deliver ideas on how to exploit the lefthanded-hitting rookie. Frustration will mount for Valdez, too, at some point. But his success at the plate so far should give Sox fans some level of affirmation that they have a hitter on their hands.
“I do believe it’s the plate discipline,” said manager Alex Cora on what has led to Valdez’s early success. “That’s something we noticed when we made the trade. So as long as he keeps swinging at the ones he has to swing at, he’s going to be OK.”
Valdez, who hit .184 at Worcester but in just 57 at-bats, said the key difference between Triple A and the majors is that pitchers don’t make many mistakes. But with that, he noted, pitchers are more around the plate, allowing him to set his sights even more within the strike zone.
Defensively, Valdez looks to be getting more comfortable, at least in the past couple of games, and initiated a difficult double play in the first game of the two-game set with the Braves. Valdez fielded the ball on his glove side, reverse pivoted, and delivered a strike to shortstop Kiké Hernández, who completed the play to first.
Yet there’s still work to be done on defense, a weakness in Valdez’s game. He works tirelessly with third base coach/infielder instructor Carlos Febles and has sought out teammates such as third baseman Rafael Devers and Hernández for guidance, too.
The Sox are still some time away from a Trevor Story return. Adalberto Mondesi’s timeline is still unclear despite it being over a year since he underwent ACL surgery. Yu Chang recently underwent hamate surgery that will leave him sidelined for at least six weeks.
The reps are there for Valdez to continue to prove himself.
“I’m not taking this opportunity for granted,” Valdez said. “And that’s why I’m continuing the work that I do with Febles and am soaking up as much as I can.” Cardinals fly into Fenway
The Sox will open up a three-game set against the Cardinals with James Paxton on the mound Friday at Fenway Park opposite Adam Wainwright. The start will be Paxton’s first since April 6, 2021, when the lefthander was a member of the Mariners.
On Saturday, Chris Sale will take on fellow lefthander Steven Matz, followed by Corey Kluber against Miles Mikolas for the series finale Sunday.
The Cardinals (13-25) have gotten off to a disappointing start but have won three of four and most recently took two of three from the Cubs in Chicago. Whitlock gets work in
Garrett Whitlock threw a three-inning simulated game (48 pitches) Thursday at Fenway as he continues his recovery from right ulnar neuritis … The Red Sox will host their first drone show following Friday’s game … Worcester’s Polar Park won Ballpark Digest’s Triple A Best of the Ballparks vote for 2023.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 12, 2023 13:16:40 GMT -5
Red Sox trade for Athletics minor league IN/OF with big league experience
Updated: May. 12, 2023, 1:27 p.m.|Published: May. 12, 2023, 1:25 p.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — The Red Sox acquired Athletics minor league infielder and outfielder Pablo Reyes for cash considerations.
Boston is lacking at shortstop depth with Christian Arroyo on the IL. Reyes provides depth there.
Reyes is a 29-year-old right-handed hitter with major league experience. He played in 89 games for the Pirates in 2018-19 combined. He appeared in 58 games for the Brewers in 2021-22 combined.
He has a career .238/.307/.361/.667 line with six homers, 14 doubles, two triples, 40 runs and 29 RBIs in 323 plate appearances. He has played second base, shortstop, third base, left field and right field in the big leagues.
He posted a .257/.385/.351/.736 line with one homer, one triple, two doubles, 13 runs and 10 RBIs in 21 games (91 plate appearances) for Triple-A Las Vegas this season. He made starts at shortstop, third, second, left, right and DH.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 12, 2023 13:20:31 GMT -5
Cardinals, Red Sox show different reactions to slow starts The Cardinals, who visit Fenway Park this weekend, have handled slow starts from some players very differently than the Red Sox.
By Jon Couture May 12, 2023 | 10:53 AM
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COMMENTARY
The St. Louis Cardinals — quasi-rivals that they are — arrive at Fenway Park for a three-game series starting Friday on something of a roll. That we can call one series victory that should tell you something.
This weekend’s visitors are bad. At most generous, they’ve been bad, three games adrift in the National League cellar even after winning two of three at Wrigley Field against the rival Cubs. Both 6-8 to begin the year, the Red Sox have won 16 of 24 as the Cardinals have lost 17 of 24. ADVERTISING
Bad teams are bad for myriad reasons. The Cardinals rotation (5.40 ERA, 7 quality starts in 38 games) has been roughly akin to that of the Red Sox (6.01 ERA, 8 QS), but without the studly bullpen. The defense has been similarly mediocre, but the offense has been league average as opposed to one of the three best in baseball.
Bad teams are bad for myriad reasons. The Cardinals rotation (5.40 ERA, 7 quality starts in 38 games) has been roughly akin to that of the Red Sox (6.01 ERA, 8 QS), but without the studly bullpen. The defense has been similarly mediocre, but the offense has been league average as opposed to one of the three best in baseball.
I want to direct your attention to two players: Willson Contreras and Jordan Walker.
You will see Contreras this weekend, but it likely won’t be where you expected to. When St. Louis signed the 30-year-old to a five-year, $87.5 million contract in December, in need of a new backstop with the retirement of Yadier Molina, general manager John Mozeliak declared “the Cardinals have had a lengthy history of standout catchers, and we feel that Willson is someone who is capable of adding his name to that distinguished list in the years to come.”
Last Friday, the Cardinals moved the three-time All-Star out from behind the plate indefinitely. He has DH’d every game since.
“There’s so many different layers and elements to what we’re talking about,” manager Oli Marmol told reporters. When asked to elaborate, Marmol declined.
“I’ll wear it,” he said in part. “At the end of the day, it won’t make sense to anyone else, but we do feel confident in the end product.”
Given that he’s spending his time not on defense working closely with pitchers and coaches, it’s not a real tough riddle to crack. A franchise that didn’t have to think about its catcher for two decades thanks to Molina is suddenly uneasy with the next step.
This despite Contreras largely delivering exactly what’s been expected. His status atop the free-agent catcher pool this winter was almost exclusively based on offense, his game-calling and receiving at best average. The things that seem to be problems on the St. Louis staff — bottom-rung swinging strike rate and batting average on balls in play, plus velocity drops for multiple starters — aren’t typically catcher-driven issues.
Yet St. Louis is willing to further muddle its designated hitter pool — they’ve used six DHs in 38 games — searching for a solution.
As for Walker, the organization’s top prospect at 20 years old made the most of a spring where multiple players (Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt, Lars Nootbaar) were away at the World Baseball Classic. He opened eyes to the point he made the Opening Day roster straight from Double A.
Walker started 19 of the year’s first 22 games in right field, with hits in the first 12. A 1-for-17 slump followed, though, and with five players fighting for three outfield spots, Walker was demoted.
“We think this is the best way in a shorter amount of time to get the amount of at-bats needed to make the adjustment,” Marmol told reporters. “You’d be crazy to think the kid is not going to be back up here.”
Reasonable enough. As is Contreras, really . . . six weeks into a five-year commitment (with an option for a sixth) is a sliver of time. Yet each is a window into how two storied organizations, who think an awful lot of their respective Ways of doing business, handled a slow start.
Masataka Yoshida was hitting .167 (8 for 48) when he got April 19 off. The Red Sox trusted what they had, knew what they signed, and he’s hit .384 with 10 extra-base hits in the 18 games since.
Corey Kluber was as bad as could be in his first four starts. They let he (and Chris Sale) work through their issues, and the results have been . . . let’s just say better. Boston’s won Kluber’s last three starts, and three of Sale’s last four.
Kiké Hernández made six errors in his first 11 starts at shortstop. Admittedly, the Red Sox are short enough in the middle infield that they largely had to keep Hernández out there, but he’s been much better since.
It’s not a perfect comparison, but it feels like a bad start sent one team scrambling and left the other to trust in its process.
We’re still talking in small samples, this weekend just getting us to the quarter pole. And I can already hear the argument that the Cardinals’ quick hooks are actually a good thing. The just-roll-’em-out-there attitude from the Red Sox speaks to their current drive to excel.
I’ll always prefer the team that isn’t second-guessing itself before June 1, thanks. And heck knows, given Nate Eovaldi’s scoreless streak in Texas, Xander Bogaerts’ consistent excellence in San Diego, and what will undoubtedly be Jake Diekman’s emergence as a key piece in the Tampa bullpen because Rays, we are never lacking for reasons to second-guess around here.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 12, 2023 13:28:43 GMT -5
James Paxton to make first start since April 2021 as Red Sox take on Cardinals; see lineups and game notesBy Andrew Mahoney Globe Staff,Updated May 12, 2023, 1 hour ago After going 3-2 on a road trip to Philadelphia and Atlanta, the Red Sox return to Fenway Park for a six-game homestand, beginning with three games with the Cardinals this weekend. James Paxton will make his Red Sox debut after missing all of 2022 recovering from Tommy John surgery, followed by a strained shoulder muscle. He will be making his first start since April 6, 2021, and has been limited to six starts since the end of the 2019 season, when he established career highs in wins (15) and starts (29) while pitching for the Yankees. Lineups CARDINALS (13-25): 1. Tommy Edman (S) 2B 2. Paul Goldschmidt (R) 1B 3. Willson Contreras (R) DH 4. Nolan Arenado (R) 3B 5. Juan Yepez (R) LF 6. Dylan Carlson (S) CF 7. Paul DeJong (R) SS 8. Lars Nootbaar (L) RF 9. Andrew Knizner (R) C Pitching: RHP Adam Wainwright (0-0, 7.20 ERA) RED SOX (22-16): 1. Alex Verdugo (L) RF 2. Masataka Yoshida (L) LF 3. Justin Turner (R) DH 4. Rafael Devers (L) 3B 5. Jarren Duran (L) CF 6. Triston Casas (L) 1B 7. Enrique Hernandez (R) SS 8. Enmanuel Valdez (L) 2B 9. Connor Wong (R) C Pitching: LHP James Paxton (0-0, 0.00 ERA) Time: 7:10 p.m. TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7 Cardinals vs. Paxton: Nolan Arenado 1-8 Red Sox vs. Wainwright: Rafael Devers 1-2, Jarren Duran 1-2, Kiké Hernández 0-3, Raimel Tapia 2-7, Justin Turner 3-12, Alex Verdugo 0-3 Stat of the day: Since April 14, the Red Sox lead MLB in batting average (.286), OBP (.353), and OPS (818). Notes: Wainwright, 41, allowed four runs and eight hits in five-plus innings against Detroit during his season debut Saturday. Now in his 19th season, he missed all of April after straining his groin in the WBC. He is 1-1 with a 4.05 ERA in two career starts against the Red Sox. ... Chris Sale will take on fellow lefthander Steven Matz Saturday, followed by Corey Kluber against Miles Mikolas for the series finale Sunday. Song of the Day: Foreigner - Feels Like The First Time www.youtube.com/watch?v=CK6jKL2qWxo
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 12, 2023 16:39:00 GMT -5
Red Sox’ Trevor Story takes another step forward in rehab (injury updates)
Updated: May. 12, 2023, 5:36 p.m.|Published: May. 12, 2023, 5:33 p.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — Trevor Story, who recently resumed his rehab at the Red Sox’s JetBlue Park complex in Fort Myers, has taken another positive step forward. He began hitting.
Story started the regular season on the 60-day injured list while recovering from elbow surgery that he underwent in January.
The 30-year-old shortstop, who started throwing in April, spent last month rehabbing with the Red Sox in Boston. He then returned home for the birth of his second child before reporting to Fort Myers to resume his rehab.
“He got there (to Fort Myers) a few days ago,” manager Alex Cora said. “Hitting and throwing. Just going through his process.”
Shortstop/second baseman Adalberto Mondesí (60-day IL, recovering from ACL surgery) also continues to rehab in Fort Myers. He hasn’t yet appeared in an extended spring training game.
He recently underwent a checkup in Boston.
“He was here for a few days and they feel good where he’s at structurally,” Cora said. “Just gotta keep grinding through it.” Joely Rodriguez to make another rehab outing
Red Sox left-handed reliever Joely Rodriguez (grade two oblique strain) is expected to make another rehab appearance Saturday. The Red Sox then might activate him Monday when the Mariners visit town.
“He’s going tomorrow to Portland for an up-and-down,” Cora said. “So if everything goes well, he’ll be ready for Seattle.” Garrett Whitlock to make rehab start
Red Sox starter Garrett Whitlock threw a three-inning simulated game at Fenway Park on Thursday. Nothing is finalized yet but he is expected to make a rehab start Tuesday for Triple-A Worcester at Polar Park.
“He looks good,” manager Alex Cora said. “He feels fine. I don’t know how many (rehab starts) he’s going to need. In my opinion, at least two. But we’ll see how it goes.”
The Red Sox placed Whitlock on the 15-day injured list April 28 (retroactive to April 25) due to right elbow ulnar neuritis.
Kutter Crawford expected to be ready for San Diego
Kutter Crawford (left hamstring strain) is eligible to return from the 15-day injured list May 19 when the Red Sox open a West Coast road trip in San Diego vs. the Padres.
He’s still on track to return right when he’s eligible.
“He’s fine. He got on the mound in Atlanta. Everything went well,” Cora said. “With him, I think the expectations are for him to be activated as soon as he can.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 12, 2023 18:20:17 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 41s Paxton got to 1-2 against Arenado, but his 96 mph middle-middle fastball got turned around at about 196 for a two-run homer.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on May 12, 2023 19:40:26 GMT -5
A guy on 2nd, two outs, and Devers up, with Duran on-deck. Last year, Devers gets the walk every, single time. Duran has picked up a lot of respect around the league.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 12, 2023 21:08:32 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 18m Jansen is done. He faced four batters and retired none: Walk, single, homer, double. I believe he threw 12 cutters, with just five of those for strikes. Very atypical. One wonders if his back issue recurred.
Ryan Helsley closes it for the Cardinals out by striking out the side, and for the first time this year, the Red Sox lose a game they led after the sixth inning. Cardinals win, 8-6.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 13, 2023 2:13:00 GMT -5
Red Sox To Select Pablo Reyes By Anthony Franco | May 12, 2023 at 11:15pm CDT
The Red Sox plan to select the contract of infielder Pablo Reyes, reports Julian McWilliams of the Boston Globe (Twitter link). Corner infielder Bobby Dalbec will be optioned to Triple-A Worcester in a corresponding active roster move, reports Christopher Smith of MassLive. Boston already had an opening on the 40-man roster after losing Zack Littell on waivers.
Reyes has played the 2023 campaign in the A’s system. The utilityman signed a minor league contract with Oakland and started the year with their top affiliate in Las Vegas. The Red Sox acquired him for cash this morning. It’s unclear whether Reyes’ deal with the A’s contained an upward mobility clause that required them to make him available if another team offered an immediate roster spot or whether Oakland made the deal out of courtesy. In either case, the 29-year-old returns to the majors for what’ll be a fifth season in six years.
A native of the Dominican Republic, Reyes began his career in the Pirates’ system. He reached the majors with Pittsburgh in 2018 and tallied a personal-high 157 plate appearances the following season. He was suspended for the entire 2020 campaign after failing a performance-enhancing drug test and Pittsburgh cut him loose at the end of that year. Reyes signed a minor league deal with the Brewers and cracked the MLB roster early in 2021. He’d appear in 59 games over the next two seasons.
Between Pittsburgh and Milwaukee, the right-handed hitting Reyes has a .238/.307/.361 batting line over 323 big league plate appearances. He owns a solid .273/.342/.440 slash in just under 1300 trips to the plate at the Triple-A level. That includes a .257/.385/.351 start over 21 games for the Aviators in 2023. He’s long shown solid plate discipline and contact skills without much power.
Reyes is out of minor league option years. Boston will have to keep him on the MLB roster or make him available to other teams via waivers. He brings a fair bit of flexibility to Alex Cora’s bench. He’s logged ample minor league work at both middle infield positions, third base and in left and center field. The bulk of his time — just over 3000 innings — has been spent at the keystone. He’ll add some middle infield depth behind the current starting duo of Enmanuel Valdez and Enrique Hernández.
As for Dalbec, he heads back to Triple-A after a brief recall from the minors. He’s appeared in just seven MLB games this year after topping 100 contests in each of the preceding two seasons. The right-handed hitter owns a solid .238/.374/.475 line over 23 games with Worcester but he’s striking out almost 40% of the time at the Triple-A level.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 13, 2023 2:23:45 GMT -5
'Big Maple' taps into emotions with 9 K's in Red Sox debut Left-hander Paxton gives up two runs over five innings in first start since April 2021 2:29 AM GMT-3 Ian Browne Ian Browne
BOSTON -- How could anyone know what to expect when James Paxton stepped on a Major League mound for the first time in more than two years and faced the Cardinals on Friday night?
Certainly it wouldn’t have been fair to expect nine strikeouts over five quality innings. Or a crisp fastball that topped out at 97.8 mph.
But as the lefty made his long-awaited debut for the Red Sox 17 months after he signed with them, he did both of those things, serving as the standout performer in Boston’s 8-6 loss at Fenway Park.
“It was a long time [coming],” said Paxton. “I was focused on finding my rhythm out there and letting it rip.”
Let it rip is exactly what Paxton did. Paxton allowed four hits, two runs and one walk while striking out nine and throwing 87 pitches (58 for strikes).
“He looked like the guy that was pitching in Seattle a while ago,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “The fastball was playing, the breaking ball got better through the outing, the cutter, he dotted a few of those. He was in control.”
Paxton was in line for the win when Enmanuel Valdez and Connor Wong roped back-to-back homers in the bottom of the fifth, but the bullpen couldn’t hold it.
That took nothing away from what a big night this was for the man known as the Big Maple.
“That was awesome, watching him pitch today,” said Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen, who was charged with his second blown save of the season. “It gave me goosebumps. Talk about a guy who hasn’t competed in a couple of years to get nine strikeouts, he was sharp. The first thing I did [when he came out] was give him a hug and tell him, ‘Welcome back.’ He’s going to be a huge part for us. Just feel good about this and continue to build on this and be ready for the next one.”
Impressively, Paxton was able to channel his emotions and brush off the rust on a night his only blemish was a two-out, two-run homer off the bat of Nolan Arenado in the top of the first.
“Honestly, it kind of felt like my debut all over again after being out for so long,” said Paxton. “All those emotions -- you’re nervous, you’re excited, all that. I just focused on getting ready for the game with everything I had.”
Results aside, the win for Paxton on Friday was just the fact that he made it back after such a long road of rehab from Tommy John surgery and other assorted injuries. The fact he almost looked like his vintage self made it more special.
“I felt like myself out there,” said Paxton. “It was really nice to be pitching in a big league stadium again with all the adrenaline. The fans were fantastic out there. Just had a lot of fun.”
Next up for Paxton will be a start at San Diego on May 19. There is certainly plenty to build on.
Of the 39 swings the Cardinals took, Paxton generated 12 whiffs. In the fourth, he achieved a career first, striking out three batters looking in the same inning.
As he walked back to the dugout following his final frame, his coaching staff and teammates swarmed him with congratulations.
At last, Paxton felt like a full-fledged member of the Red Sox.
“When I was all done, getting congratulations from all those guys was really nice. They know what I've been through and how long it’s been,” said Paxton. “It’s really nice to be out there pitching, being part of these guys. I'm excited to keep going with this group.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on May 13, 2023 2:25:04 GMT -5
Injuries & Moves: Duvall gets splint removed May 12th, 2023 Share
LATEST NEWS May 12: OF Adam Duvall sheds splint, looks to build strength Duvall, who suffered a distal radius fracture of his left wrist on April 9, is finally without a cast or splint. He is enjoying the freedom of being able to move his wrist around and looks forward to ramping up in the near future. Duvall was recently moved to the 60-day injured list, so the earliest he can be activated is June 9.
"Obviously the goal now is strengthen it back up, get the range of motion back up," Duvall said. "The doctor is coming in today so we’ll talk to him and build out a plan and go with it. Obviously you want to push the date and get back as soon as possible. I think we’re playing well. Let’s get it right and I’ll be as strong as ever.”
May 12: RHP Garrett Whitlock to make rehab start for Worcester Whitlock threw a three-inning sim game at Fenway Park on Thursday and manager Alex Cora was pleased with the way he threw the ball. The next step is a Minor League rehab start for Triple-A Worcester, which is most likely to take place on Tuesday night. Cora thinks that Whitlock will need at least two rehab starts before he is activated by the Red Sox. If that winds up being the case, the earliest he will return is the final weekend in May.
Whitlock was placed on the 15-day injured list on April 28 with right elbow neuritis. He has made three starts this season, going 1-2 with a 6.19 ERA.
May 12: LHP Joely Rodríguez likely to be activated Monday Rodríguez will make the fifth appearance of his Minor League rehab assignment on Saturday when he pitches for Double-A Portland. Red Sox manager Alex Cora called it an up-and-down, which means Rodríguez will be asked to get between four and six outs. The lefty is likely to be activated by the Red Sox for a three-game series that starts on Monday at Fenway against the Mariners. Rodríguez suffered a right oblique strain in Spring Training.
SS Trevor Story (Right UCL surgery) Expected return: July or after Story is now in Fort Myers, Fla., taking incremental steps toward a return to action around midseason. He is pretty much doing all baseball activities, including swinging, throwing and fielding. Story hopes to return at some point during the second half of the season. On Jan. 9, Story underwent an internal bracing procedure of the right ulnar collateral ligament. (Last updated: May 12)
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