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Boston Red Sox Bullpen: Breakdown of a quietly solid group

By Jacob Anes

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)
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) /
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BOSTON, MA – JUNE 13: Matt Barnes #32 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after making the third out in the eighth inning of a game against the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park on June 13, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – JUNE 13: Matt Barnes #32 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after making the third out in the eighth inning of a game against the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park on June 13, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

Locks for 2020:

  • RH Matt Barnes; 3.78 ERA, 3.28 FIP
  • RH Brandon Workman; 1.88 ERA, 2.46 FIP
  • RH Marcus Walden; 3.81 ERA; 3.69 FIP
  • LH Josh Taylor; 3.04 ERA, 3.11 FIP
  • LH Darwinzon Hernandez; 4.45 ERA, 2.75 FIP

During the season, these five proved to be a really solid core for the bullpen. However, I want to focus on the two lefties. On March 24, 2018, the Red Sox announced that Deven Marrero did not make the roster and was traded to Arizona for cash considerations or a player to be named later. It ended up being the latter and the Red Sox acquired unknown lefty pitcher Josh Taylor. He struggled his first year in the minors for the Red Sox, but after a strong start to the season in the minors in 2019, he was promoted on June 14 and was never sent back down.

Taylor ended up being a pleasant surprise for the team. In 47 1/3 innings, he posted a 3.04 ERA, 3.11 FIP, and 11.8 K/9. He kept hard contact to a minimum at 28.9 percent and hitters managed just a .285 xWOBA against him, per Baseball Savant. He and his left-handed counterpart really began to form a dominant lefty duo in the bullpen by the end of the year.

The other lefty is Hernandez. He opened up the season as one of the Red Sox top prospects and after a strong spring, there was some talk of him making the Opening Day roster in the bullpen. He was sent to AA to continue his development as a starter and much like previous years, control issues haunted him.

In Portland, he walked 7.7 per 9 and in Pawtucket, he walked 8.5 per 9. As a reliever in the majors, walks were still an issue at 6.9 BB/9, but as a reliever, it is much easier to limit or prevent damage from walks than as a starter.

If you look past the walks, his numbers were outstanding. Hernandez posted a 16.6 K/9 as a reliever and did not allow a single barrel all season. Among relievers with at least 50 batted ball events (BBE), Hernandez is one of two to allow 0 (he had 61 BBE). Hernandez will definitely be a key part of next year’s bullpen (assuming he continues to be a reliever) and could potentially be the team’s future closer.

As for the three righties, Workman had a stunning bounce-back season where he was one of the best relievers in baseball, Barnes hit some bumps this year but overall was solid and Walden finally got an extended chance as a 30-year-old rookie and was good. These three will definitely be in next year’s bullpen and Workman will likely be the closer on opening day.

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