Boston Red Sox option Ryan Cook to clear roster spot for Henry Owens
The Boston Red Sox have optioned right-handed reliever Ryan Cook to Triple-A Pawtucket in order to clear a spot on the roster to call up Henry Owens to start Tuesday’s game in New York, according to Minor League Baseball’s transactions page.
Cook was acquired for cash considerations from Oakland at the non-waiver deadline. While he was active for Sunday’s game against the Rays, he never made an appearance out of the bullpen. He has pitched only 4.1 innings in the majors this season, producing an unsightly 10.38 ERA for the A’s.
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To make room on the 40-man roster for Owens, the Red Sox have released reliever Ronald Belisario, whom they acquired last month from Tampa Bay. Belisario had thrown 6.1 scoreless innings in relief for Pawtucket while surrendering only 4 hits, but he also walked 3 batters and only struck out 2.
Owens will be making his major league debut for the Red Sox tonight. He has a 3-8 record for the PawSox this season, but owns a more promising 3.16 ERA and 7.6 K/9 ratio. The lefty struggled with control issues early in the season, but has allowed 2 walks or less in each of his last 9 starts.
MLB.com ranks Owens as the No. 5 prospect in the Red Sox organization and 48th overall, one spot behind fellow lefty Brian Johnson, who was recently placed on the disabled list with tightness in his pitching elbow.
Owens joins Johnson and Eduardo Rodriguez as the next promising starter to make it to the big leagues this season. The trio of lefties are auditioning for a spot in next season’s rotation, offering us a glimpse of what the Red Sox future staff will look like.
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