Workman Promoted, Villarreal Released.

The Red Sox have promoted RHP Brandon Workman from AA Portland, to AAA Pawtucket. In a corresponding move, the team has granted veteran pitcher Oscar Villarreal his release.

March 24, 2013; Clearwater, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Brandon Workman (95) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Bright House Networks Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Workman has been nothing if not consistent in his time the SeaDogs, racking up 90 2/3 innings over parts of two seasons of work. This year alone, in 65 2/3 innings, Workman has a .216 BAA and a 3.43 ERA. The 24-year-old, taken in the second round of the 2010 draft, has never had an ERA above 4.00 in his Sox career.

Workman will compliment an already strong PawSox rotation that features the likes of Allen Webster, and Rubby De La Rosa not to mention Alfredo Aceves and Steven Wright. Workman possesses a low-90s fastball that occasionally reaches 95, a plus cutter in the 89-90mph range and a good curveball that tops out in the mid to high 70s and has only gotten better this year. Workman’s promotion is coming on heels of what was his best start of the year, an eight inning effort in which he gave up only one run on three hits.

While Workman lacks the ceiling of Matt Barnes, Anthony Ranaudo, Webster, and De La Rosa, he will provide quality depth when his time comes. He projects as a strong reliever, or quality back of the rotation type. While he likely won’t see any time in the bigs this year, it won’t be too long until he makes an impact.