Red Sox Recall Right-Handed Pitcher Heath Hembree from Triple-A Pawtucket

BOSTON, MA - The Boston Red Sox today recalled right-handed pitcher Heath Hembree from Triple-A Pawtucket. To make room for him on the 25-man roster, left-handed pitcher Robbie Ross Jr. was optioned to Pawtucket following last night's game. Hembree will be available for tonight's game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Fenway Park at 7:15 p.m.

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

Hembree, 26, returns to the Red Sox for his second major league stint of the season. He appeared in only one game in his first stint, allowing six runs and six hits with three strikeouts in 1.1 innings of relief on April 26 at Baltimore. The right-hander began the season with Pawtucket, where he has posted a 1.08 ERA (2 ER/16.2 IP) with 17 strikeouts compared to just two walks in 14 relief appearances. Hembree, who opened the season with an 11.0-inning scoreless streak that spanned nine appearances, has converted five of his seven save opportunities 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 5.21 ERA (11 ER/19.0 IP), and 21 strikeouts. 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. Hembree made his Red Sox debut throwing 4.0 scoreless innings of relief in the 19-inning contest between the Angles and Red Sox last August in Anaheim.

Over his two stints with the Red Sox this season, Ross, 25, has a 5.14 ERA (8 ER/14.0 IP) with nine strikeouts and no record in 14 relief appearances, nine of which were scoreless. He threw a season-high 2.1 scoreless innings of relief in last night's game against the Angels. He will rejoin Pawtucket, where he previously appeared in one game on May 11 against Indianapolis, allowing one run in two innings pitched. 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.