Final Pawtucket Red Sox grades
By Rick McNair
Jul 21, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Brian Johnson (61) pitches during the fourth inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Starters
Owens started a bit rocky in Pawtucket and was prone to too many walks. By the time Owens was called to Boston his BB/9 shrunk to 2.27 for July. Owens record (3-8) may not have been impressive, but his 3.16 ERA and 1.14 WHIP were. Toss in that opponents hit only .193 and the 22-year-old left-hander certainly was a prized prospect and performer in the IL. Grade B+
Johnson and Rodriguez were among the pitching elite in the IL. Both were stalwarts for the PawSox and both get a very solid Grade A
Steven Wright split his time between Boston and Pawtucket (3-5, 3.81) and was actually in the Boston rotation until a concussion put him on the DL. The 30-year-old right-hander had eight starts with Pawtucket. Grade B
What happened to Keith Couch? The opportunity presented itself for Couch with the promotion of other staff members and Couch responded with three decent June starts. That was it. The rest of the season was a nightmare for the 25-year-old right-hander. Couch has since been sent to the bullpen. Grade D-
Jess Todd is a 29-year-old right-hander with some MLB experience. Todd, now on the DL, did not raise any hopes of being a potential addition to Boston. Todd finished 3-5 with a 5.07 ERA. Grade D+
Injuries halted Edwin Escobar (3-3, 5.07) in 2015, but the 23-year-old left-hander is now in the Pawtucket rotation. In 2014 Escobar made a brief appearance in Boston with the idea of a potential specialist out of the bullpen. Grade C
Zeke Spruill (5-10, 3.94) has moved into the rotation with 13 starts. Spruill, picked up from Arizona in a trade, is a 25-year-old right-hander who also had two saves for Pawtucket. Grade B-
Shawn Haviland (5-10, 4.18) is a 29-year-old minor league veteran. The right-hander made 19 starts for Pawtucket. Grade B-
William Cuevas (3-2, 2.63) moved up from Portland (8-5, 3.40) to go into the PawSox rotation. In 41 innings of work Cuevas, a 24-year-old right-hander, allowed 29 hits and had a 1.09 WHIP. Grade B+
Welcome back, Rich Hill (5-4, 2.83/total IL). Hill, born in Boston, is a 35-year-ol left-hander who is now a starter with Pawtucket after being resigned by Boston in mid-August. Hill worked 54 IL innings and has impressed in his Pawtucket stay. Hill will get a look this September and with his previous MLB experience he could be a factor in spring training for a bullpen slot. Grade A-
Matt Barnes (1-1, 4.06) made five starts for the PawSox and appeared in 17 games. Nothing special for the former number one draft pick. Grade C