Red Sox recall right-handed pitcher Steven Wright from Triple-A Pawtucket
Option right-handed pitcher Heath Hembree to Pawtucket
BOSTON, MA - The Boston Red Sox today recalled right-handed pitcher Steven Wright from Triple-A Pawtucket. To make room for him on the 25-man roster, right-handed pitcher Heath Hembree was optioned to Pawtucket. Wright will be available for tonight's game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park beginning at 6:10 p.m.
Executive Vice President/General Manager Ben Cherington made the announcement.
Wright, 30, is making his second major league stint of 2015 after beginning the season on Boston's Opening Day roster. He made his only appearance with the Red Sox on April 10, allowing two runs over the final 5.0 innings of the club's 19-inning game in New York to earn the win against the Yankees. The knuckleballer was optioned to Pawtucket on April 11 and made two starts with the PawSox, combining to go 0-1 with a 6.55 ERA (8 ER/11.0 IP, 17 H, 7 BB, 12 SO). He last pitched on April 22, when he matched a career high with 10 strikeouts in 6.0 innings vs. Buffalo. Wright has 11 games of major league experience (two starts), all with the Red Sox from 2013-15, and has combined to go 3-1 with a 3.66 ERA (16 ER/39.1 IP).
Hembree, 26, was recalled by Boston yesterday and made his season debut at Baltimore, allowing six earned runs in 1.1 innings of relief (6 H, BB, HR, 3 SO). He began the year with Pawtucket and has not allowed a run in six relief appearances at Triple-A this season, recording two saves. In 8.0 innings with the PawSox, he has fanned 10 batters while allowing only three hits and two walks. The right-hander is in his first full season in the Red Sox organization after being acquired from the San Francisco Giants on July 26, 2014. Last year, he combined to go 1-4 with 20 saves, a 3.71 ERA (19 ER/46.0 IP), and 55 strikeouts in 48 relief appearances between Triple-A Fresno and Pawtucket, and was named a mid-season Pacific Coast League All-Star. In parts of three major league seasons with the Giants (2013) and Red Sox (2014-15), Hembree has no record, a 5.21 ERA (11 ER/19.0 IP) and 21 strikeouts.