The youth movement continues in Boston. Just weeks after promoting Blake Swihart, arguably the team’s top offensive prospect, to the majors after a hand injury to starting catcher Ryan Hanigan, the Red Sox will add their top pitching prospect to the major league squad. According to a tweet from Tim Britton of the Providence Journal, the Red Sox have brought left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez to Boston.
Rodriguez broke onto the prospect radar with a big 2013 season, which saw him post a 3.41 ERA between High-A Frederick and Double-A Bowie. However, some early season struggles due to a knee injury allowed the Red Sox to scoop him up in the Andrew Miller trade at last season’s trade deadline.
Since joining the Red Sox organization, Rodriguez has been nothing short of dominant. He rattled off an incredible six-start stretch to close out the 2014 season in Double-A Portland, posting a 0.96 ERA alongside 9.4 K/9 and 1.9 BB/9 in 37.1 innings pitched. The Red Sox started Rodriguez in Triple-A Pawtucket this season, where he has been impressive. Through eight starts, Rodriguez owns a 2.98 ERA which is backed by some of the best peripherals of his career, featuring 8.2 K/9 and an incredible 1.3 BB/9.
It’s unclear whether the Red Sox are promoting Rodriguez indefinitely or simply for a spot start. Rodriguez is lined up to pitch tomorrow, which would coincide with Steven Wright‘s turn in the rotation. And though Wright has been solid in his time with the Red Sox this season, he’s likely not a long-term rotation piece in Boston.
Regardless of Boston’s plans for Rodriguez this season, it will be exciting to get a read on one of the brightest young players in the Red Sox organization. Rodriguez ought to get the start in tomorrow night’s series opener against the Rangers and, if he impresses, he could find himself in the “savior” role for the Red Sox’ rotation. It has been a while since the Red Sox had a pitching prospect of Rodriguez’s caliber (he was recently ranked as the 18th best prospect in baseball on Keith Law’s updated top 25) and this promotion is exciting news for the Red Sox.