Prior to tonight's game against the Chicago White Sox, the Boston Red Sox returned right-handed pitcher Joe Kelly from his injury rehab assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket and activated him from the 10-day disabled list. To make room on the 25-man roster, the club optioned right-handed pitcher Austin Maddox to Pawtucket following last night's game.
President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski made the announcement.
Kelly, 29, was placed on the 10-day disabled list on July 15 with a left hamstring strain. He made one rehab appearance with the PawSox, tossing a perfect seventh inning on August 2 against Syracuse. The right-hander is 3-1 with a 1.49 ERA (6 ER/36.1 IP) and a .189 opponent batting average for Boston this season, recording 26 strikeouts against 16 walks in 34 appearances. He has posted a 0.78 ERA (2 ER/23.0 IP) in his last 24 outings, having made a career-best 23 consecutive scoreless appearances from May 1-July 3. Acquired by Boston from the St. Louis Cardinals on July 31, 2014, Kelly's first 41 games with the Red Sox came as a starting pitcher. In his last 48 appearances-all in relief-he has posted a 1.33 ERA (8 ER/54.0 IP), a 1.07 WHIP, and a .194 opponent batting average.
Maddox, 26, has not allowed a run or walked a batter in three appearances over three major league stints this season, the first of his career. The right-hander has surrendered three hits with one strikeout in 3.2 innings, most recently tossing 1.2 scoreless frames in the first game of a doubleheader against the New York Yankees on July 16. He is also 2-3 with five saves and a 3.20 ERA (14 ER/39.1 IP) over 29 games between Double-A Portland and Pawtucket this season. In six professional seasons since being selected by the Red Sox in the third round of the 2012 June Draft, Maddox is 13-18 with 22 saves, a 4.37 ERA (122 ER/251.1 IP), and 215 strikeouts over 135 minor league games, including 13 starts.