Red Sox: Examining the remaining non-roster invitees in major league camp
By Jimmy Longo
Kyle Kendrick, RHP
Kind of an afterthought in the minds of many, Kyle Kendrick came into the Red Sox spring training with no buzz really centered around the right-hander. The 32-year-od spent seven years in Philadelphia and 2015 in Colorado, accumulating a 4.63 ERA over those years, not that good obviously.
In 2016, the major league vet spent the season back riding buses with the Angels farm system.
For the opening day starter in 2015 as a Rockie, Kendrick has come a long way from being out of the majors in 2016. This spring he’s 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in four starts, with 16 SO in 18 innings.
Coming into the spring, Kendrick has emerged from a long shot to possibly a savior in the waiting in terms of saving the depth of the Red Sox pitching rotation. Though he’ll likely start the season in AAA, Kendrick has become integrally important for the Red Sox following David Price’s elbow issues, the rehabilitation’s of Steven Wright and Drew Pomeranz, and the always-possible chance of Eduardo Rodriguez’s knee flaring up as well.
Next: Red Sox make more roster cuts
Similar to Rich Hill, Kendrick enlisted the help of Red Sox assistant pitching coach Brian Bannister, as according to Jen McCaffery of MassLive, Kendrick was one of a group of pitchers the Red Sox had Bannister target for depth, turning Kendrick in the offseason into his latest revived pupil.