Light, Hernandez, Jerez added to Sox's 40-man
BOSTON -- The Red Sox added three prospects to the 40-man roster on Friday, with righty reliever Pat Light most notable among them.
By adding Light, infielder Marco Hernandez and lefty Williams Jerez to the 40-man roster, Boston is able to protect the players in the Rule 5 Draft, which will take place on Dec. 10 in Nashville, Tenn.
Light was converted to a reliever last season and has one of the best power arms in the system.
The 24-year-old went 3-5 with five saves, a 3.88 ERA (27 ER/62.2 IP), .211 opponent batting average (49-for-232), .297 opponent slugging percentage, and 67 strikeouts in 47 appearances between Double-A Portland (21 games) and Triple-A Pawtucket (26 games) in 2015. Light held righties to a .186 average.
Jerez, 23, was named Red Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2015, combining with Class A Greenville, Class A Advanced Salem and Portland to go 5-3 with four saves and a 2.54 ERA (25 ER/88.2 IP) in 41 appearances, all in relief.
Video: Top Prospects: Williams Jerez, LHP, Red Sox
A left-handed-hitting infielder, Hernandez ranked second among Red Sox Minor Leaguers in batting average while making 88 starts at shortstop, 15 at second base and five at third base. A native of Santiago, Dominican Republic, Hernandez was named MVP of the Eastern League All-Star Game after going 2-for-2 with a home run as the starting shortstop and leadoff hitter for the Eastern squad. The Red Sox acquired Hernandez as the player to be named in the 2014 trade with the Cubs for Felix Doubront.
To make room for the three players, the Red Sox outrighted veteran reliever Anthony Varvaro from the Major League roster; the righty then elected for free agency. In addition, utility infielder Josh Rutledge was designated for assignment. Boston's roster is now at 40.
Varvaro pitched just nine games in 2015, his first with the Red Sox, due to a right flexor strain.
The 26-year-old Rutledge played in 39 games for the Red Sox after being acquired from the Angels on July 27 for Shane Victorino. Rutledge hit .284 (21-for-74) with 11 runs, one double, one home run, 10 RBIs and five walks, making 19 starts and appearing at second base (30 games) and third base (five games) defensively.