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Red Sox Prospect Watch: Austin Rei working his way back

By Hunter Noll

FT. MYERS, FL - FEBRUARY 20: Austin Rei #89 of the Boston Red Sox poses for a portrait during the Boston Red Sox photo day on February 20, 2018 at JetBlue Park in Ft. Myers, Florida. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
FT. MYERS, FL - FEBRUARY 20: Austin Rei #89 of the Boston Red Sox poses for a portrait during the Boston Red Sox photo day on February 20, 2018 at JetBlue Park in Ft. Myers, Florida. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – APRIL 23: Darwinzon Hernandez #63 of the Boston Red Sox pitches in the fifth inning during the second game of a double header against the Detroit Tigers at Fenway Park on April 23, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

Triple-A (Pawtucket Red Sox)

Don’t get me started on Trevor Kelley. The reliever had his Major League debut last week, and admittedly it didn’t go all that well. Kelley gave up three runs in one inning of work. What annoys me is what happened next. The righty was sent back down to the minors.

Look, I get that it was a bad outing, but the man has a 1.13 ERA in Triple-A. Yes, his xFIP is high and all that other garbage but I’ll say it again – he consistently has low ERAs and he’s having a career year. The Red Sox meanwhile have very little bullpen depth.

He had a bad outing in his MLB debut? Wow. Shocking, someone was nervous and didn’t play perfectly in their first time in the Majors – that’s the furthest thing from headline news. Do you know what doesn’t help though? Sending them to the minors only to call them up again in a few weeks. Now they have the knowledge that if they aren’t perfect they’re going to get sent down again – just adding to the pressure. See how this could turn into a terrible cycle?

It’s one that’s hurt Travis Lakins and Bobby Poyner this year as well.

So why do some pitchers get unlimited chances despite having many implosion outings and having ERAs hovering 5.00, but the guy that’s been your organizations best MiLB reliever this year get just one before being sent down?

Anyways, happier news.

Darwinzon Hernandez has looked great in his two relief appearances so far. He’s combined to go 2 1/3 shutout innings, striking out two and most importantly walking none. The lefty will likely get an extended look in the MLB bullpen at some point this year if things continue to go well.

This will sound ridiculous, but you shouldn’t worry about Josh Ockimey‘s .206 batting average. He’s already mashed 17 home runs and his ridiculous 54 walks give him a strong .352 OBP. Yes, the 23-year-old first baseman will need to improve the average over time but everything else is great right now.

Chad De La Guerra is hurt at the moment and the only way to describe that is, it sucks. DLG is slashing .324/.399/.600 with 14 doubles, one triple, and eight home runs in 40 games. That’s absurd. He’s also driven in 26 runs and scored 26 more.

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