Red Sox 40-man roster slots: Who goes?
By Rick McNair
Mar 15, 2015; Clearwater, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox outfielder Byrce Brentz (73) warms up before hitting in the batting cage before the start of the spring training game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Bright House Field. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
Bryce Brentz: A first round selection gets extra time to develop and a first round selection with a potential power bat from the right side will get that to almost an obscene nth degree. Brentz, now 27-years-old, has run out of time.
If there is any good news for Brentz is that MLB 40-man slot meant $508,000 MLB minimum for 2015 while playing at Pawtucket. Brentz is a capable defender with a strong and accurate arm. For the last place PawSox, Brentz represented one of the few power options with eight home runs. That, however, was in 59 games as injuries limited Brentz.
Brentz burst upon the scene in 2011 with a slash of .306/.365/.574 and 30 home runs and 94 RBI at Greenville and Salem. Since that time, Brentz has stalled. A shooting accident, injuries and the increased quality of pitching has stifled his advance. A brief stay in Boston in 2014 of nine games just may represent his once promising career.