BOSTON -- Prior to tonight's game against the Texas Rangers, the Boston Red Sox recalled left-handed pitcher Bobby Poyner from Triple-A Pawtucket. To make room for Poyner on the 25-man roster, the club optioned right-handed pitcher Marcus Walden to Pawtucket following last night's game.
President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski made the announcement.
Poyner, 25, most recently pitched Tuesday against Rochester, retiring all three batters faced on eight pitches. He began the season with the major league club after attending spring training as a non-roster invitee, and in six relief appearances-the first of his big league career-he allowed two runs on eight hits in 7.0 innings, striking out eight batters and walking only one. Poyner was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain on April 12, and on April 22 he was reinstated and optioned to Pawtucket. Selected by Boston in the 14th round of the 2015 June Draft, he has appeared in 104 minor league games, posting a 2.32 ERA (40 ER/155.0 IP) with 40 saves.
Walden, 29, pitched 3.2 innings in last night's game against the Rangers, allowing one unearned run on four hits with four strikeouts and zero walks. The right-hander has appeared in eight big league games over three stints with Boston in 2018, posting a 3.68 ERA (6 ER/14.2 IP) with 14 strikeouts, three walks, and zero home runs allowed. Walden made his first career major league Opening Day roster this season after attending spring training with the Red Sox as a non-roster invitee. Selected by Toronto in the ninth round of the 2007 June Draft, he is 46-45 with a 3.86 ERA (338 ER/789.0 IP) in 219 career minor league appearances (117 starts) for the Blue Jays, Athletics, Reds, Twins, and Red Sox organizations.