Red Sox announce roster moves

BOSTON, MA - The Boston Red Sox today announced the following roster moves:

• Left-handed pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket. To make room for him on the 25-man roster, right-handed pitcher Heath Hembree was optioned to Pawtucket following yesterday's game in Minnesota.
   
• Outfielder Carlos Peguero was added to the 25-man roster. To make room for him, infielder Jeff Bianchi was designated for assignment.
   
• Outfielder/first baseman Daniel Nava was placed on the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to May 26) with a left thumb strain. To fill his spot on the 25-man roster, left-handed pitcher Robbie Ross Jr. was recalled from Pawtucket.

Rodriguez (wearing No. 52), Peguero (wearing No. 39), and Ross will be active for tonight's series opener against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park beginning at 8:05 p.m. ET.

Executive Vice President/General Manager Ben Cherington made the announcement.

For Rodriguez, this is his first career major league stint. In eight starts with Pawtucket this season, he is 4-3 with a 2.98 ERA (16 ER/48.1 IP), 44 strikeouts, only seven walks, and 46 hits allowed. He has allowed two earned runs or fewer in six starts, including three one-run efforts, and owns the fifth-best WHIP (1.10) and strikeout rate among qualifying International League starters (8.2 SO/9.0 IP). At 22 years and 51 days old today, he will be the youngest Red Sox pitcher to make a start since Michael Bowden in 2008 and the youngest left-handed pitcher to make a start for Boston since Abe Alvarez in 2004. Since being acquired from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for left-hander Andrew Miller on July 31, 2014, Rodriguez has gone 7-4 with a 2.17 ERA (24 ER/99.1 IP) over 16 starts between Double-A Portland and Pawtucket, including regular and postseason. In 101 career regular season appearances (100 starts) in the minor leagues between the Orioles (2010-14) and Red Sox (2014-15) systems, the native of Valencia, Venezuela is 29-30 with a 3.23 ERA (192 ER/534.2 IP) and 462 strikeouts. Originally signed by the Orioles in 2010, he entered this season ranked by Baseball America as the Red Sox' fourth-best prospect.

Peguero, 28, was acquired from the Rangers yesterday in exchange for cash considerations. He appeared in 30 games for the Rangers to begin the season before being designated for assignment on May 20. The left-handed batter went 13-for-70 (.186) with 10 runs, four doubles, four home runs, and nine RBI while playing all three outfield positions, making 14 starts in left field and three in right field. Signed by the Mariners as a non-drafted free agent in 2005, the Dominican native has combined to hit .194 (55-for-284) with 28 runs scored, 10 doubles, three triples, 13 home runs, and 37 RBI in 99 career games with Seattle (2011-13), Kansas City (2014), and Texas (2015). Peguero hit 30 home runs for Triple-A Omaha in 2014 and has homered 167 times in his minor league career, averaging one every 16.3 at-bats at the Triple-A level (83 HR/1,349 AB).

Ross, 25, returns for his third stint with the Red Sox this season. With Boston, he has posted a 5.14 ERA (8 ER/14.0 IP) with nine strikeouts and no record in 14 relief appearances, nine of which were scoreless. In two games over two stints with Pawtucket this year, he has allowed one run in 3.0 innings (3.00 ERA) with three strikeouts, last hurling a scoreless frame on Tuesday against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Ross, who was acquired via trade from the Texas Rangers on January 27, has gone 13-8 with a 4.06 ERA (99 ER/219.2 IP) and 165 strikeouts in 164 career major league games (12 starts) between the Rangers (2013-14) and Red Sox (2015). He made Boston's Opening Day roster in 2015. 

Nava, 32, has appeared in 27 games for the Red Sox this season, appearing defensively in right field (15 games, 12 starts), left field (six games, one start), and first base (five games, all starts). At the plate, he is 10-for-63 (.159) with two doubles, seven RBI, and seven walks. Signed by the Red Sox as a minor league free agent in 2008, Nava's major league career spans five seasons, all with Boston (2010, 2012-15). The switch hitter from Redwood City, CA has hit .268 (351-for-1,312) with 87 doubles, one triple, 23 home runs, 169 RBI, and 147 walks in 422 career big league games. He is a career .285 hitter (289-for-1,014) with a .377 on-base percentage against right-handed pitchers.

Hembree, 26, has appeared in just two games over his two stints with Boston this season. He has a 23.14 ERA (6 ER/2.1 IP) with three strikeouts in those appearances, both out of the Red Sox bullpen. The right-hander will rejoin Pawtucket, where in 14 games, he has posted a 1.08 ERA (2 ER/16.2 IP) with 17 strikeouts compared to just two walks. Hembree, who did not allow a run over his first nine games (11.0 innings) of the season, has converted five of his seven save chances for the PawSox. In parts of three major league seasons with the San Francisco Giants (2013) and Red Sox (2014-15), Hembree has no record, a 4.95 ERA (11 ER/20.0 IP), and 21 strikeouts in 17 appearances. He was acquired by Boston along with left-handed pitcher Edwin Escobar via trade with the Giants in exchange for right-handed pitcher Jake Peavy and cash considerations on July 26, 2014.

Bianchi, 28, appeared in one contest for the Red Sox, entering as a pinch runner and finishing the game at third base on Sunday, the day he was selected to the major league roster. He began the season with 17 games for Pawtucket, batting .302 (16-for-53) with two doubles, four RBI, and six runs scored. Defensively for the PawSox, he appeared in nine games at second base, five at shortstop, three in left field, and one at first base. He also threw 3.0 innings of relief against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on April 12. For his major league career, Bianchi has appeared in 163 games between the Milwaukee Brewers (2012-14) and Red Sox (2015), batting .216 (81-for-375) with 11 doubles, one triple, four home runs, and 40 RBI.