Red Sox Roster Moves: Clayton Mortensen Promoted Yet Again

The life of a minor league pitcher, trying to make it to the major leagues often endures multiple trips back and forth, to and from the big club.  But Clayton Mortensen‘s season is more drastic than the typical minor leaguer.  Mortensen was recalled by the Red Sox on Tuesday for the sixth time this season, in what will likely be a permanent promotion for the remainder of this season.

Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald captures Mortensen’s whirl wind travel schedule and needless to say, the reliever is racking up his frequent flyer miles.  When the Red Sox return home after the Seattle series, it will be the fourth time in the past week that he has flown from coast to coast.  A span that has allowed him to read two and a half books according to Silverman.

But it’s the on field performance of Mortensen that is more impressive.  In 19 relief appearances, compounding for 32.0 innings, the lanky right-hander has an ERA of 2.25 and a WHIP of 1.125.  He’s also struck out 26 batters while walking 12.  In August he has nine appearances, six of which he didn’t allow a single run.  In four of those outings he never allowed a hit, granted some were for only a third of an inning, but you get the idea; he’s been great for the Red Sox out of the bullpen.  I wonder if he can start?