The Crimson Sox introduced 5 transactions this morning, together with the information that left-hander Zach Penrod’s contract has been chosen to the massive league roster. Catcher Tyler Heineman was designated for project to open up a spot on the 40-man roster, and left-hander Cam Booser and right-hander Zack Kelly had been each optioned to Triple-A Worcester to create area on the energetic roster. Boston additionally referred to as up southpaw Bailey Horn from Triple-A. Julian McWilliams of the Boston Globe (X hyperlink) was the primary to report on the Penrod, Booser, and Horn transactions, whereas MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo (through X) reported yesterday that Kelly was being optioned.
Kelly and Booser had been two of six pitchers utilized by the Crimson Sox in Friday’s 5-4 loss to the Yankees, so at this time’s strikes brings some contemporary arms into Boston’s aid corps. For Penrod, he’s now on the verge of his Main League debut, making fairly a end result of a six-year professional profession that started as an undrafted free agent.
Penrod pitched briefly with the Rangers’ rookie league membership in 2018 however he then spent two years on the sidelines because of each a Tommy John surgical procedure and the canceled 2020 minor league season. The southpaw returned to pitch within the unbiased Pioneer League from 2021-23, and this efficiency caught the attention of Crimson Sox scouts and led to a minor league deal partway by way of the 2023 season. This yr, Penrod has a 4.16 ERA over 62 2/3 mixed innings at Double-A and Triple-A ball, in addition to an enormous 34.8% strikeout price.
There’s a fairly extensive variance in these minor league numbers, as Penrod posted a 2.80 ERA in 35 1/3 Double-A innings and a a lot heftier 5.93 ERA in 27 1/3 frames in Worcester. Management has been a little bit of a query mark for Penrod all through his profession, and his stroll price additionally spiked as much as 16.1% in Triple-A after a extra palatable 9.1% quantity in Double-A motion.
Nonetheless, the strikeouts are taking part in at each ranges, and Penrod’s upper-90s fastball makes him an attention-grabbing bullpen weapon for the Crimson Sox to discover. Penrod has principally began all through his professional profession however labored out of the pen for 10 of his 15 appearances in Worcester, so Boston figures to make use of him in an extended aid function right here on the tail finish of the 2024 season. As Alex Speier of the Boston Globe explored again in Could, Penrod’s growth of a slider as a 3rd pitch after his fastball and changeup might assist him carve out a path as a starter, however the 27-year-old is definitely happy to work within the majors in any capability.
The Crimson Sox acquired Heineman in a commerce with the Mets again in February, and he has spent virtually the complete season within the minors save for 2 video games on the MLB stage. Connor Wong and Reese McGuire dealt with many of the catching duties for the Sox this season, and after Danny Jansen was acquired on the commerce deadline, McGuire was outrighed to Triple-A and Heinemen was pushed even additional down the depth chart.
Along with his two appearances in a Crimson Sox uniform, Heineman has now now suited up for 5 totally different groups on the massive league stage over his 5 seasons within the Present, and he has additionally been organizational depth for six different franchises. Heineman has hit .216/.297/.280 over 286 profession plate appearances, with 174 of these PA coming as a member of the Pirates and Blue Jays in 2022. As a result of Heineman has been outrighted earlier than, he has the flexibility to elect free company and reject an outright project from Boston if he clears DFA waivers.
