BoSox Injection
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 5
Next
ZAPOPAN, MEXICO – NOVEMBER 03: Tanner Houck #31 of USA pitches during the WBSC Premier 12 Group A match between Mexico and USA at Estadio de Beisbol Charros de Jalisco on November 3, 2019 in Zapopan, Mexico. (Photo by Refugio Ruiz/Getty Images)
ZAPOPAN, MEXICO – NOVEMBER 03: Tanner Houck #31 of USA pitches during the WBSC Premier 12 Group A match between Mexico and USA at Estadio de Beisbol Charros de Jalisco on November 3, 2019 in Zapopan, Mexico. (Photo by Refugio Ruiz/Getty Images) /

Prospect depth:

  • RH Durbin Feltman
  • RH Matthew Gorst
  • RH Tanner Houck

Tanner Houck is one of the Red Sox top pitching prospects and moved to the bullpen towards the end of last in preparation to possibly join the Red Sox bullpen for the postseason. Obviously, the Red Sox failed to make the postseason and it seems they still intend for Houck to be a starter long term. He could potentially be the fifth starter to open the season but the Red Sox could sign a free agent to fill that spot.

Matthew Gorst finished last year in AAA and posted a 2.70 ERA in a very small sample size.

Durbin Feltman was the Red Sox third-round pick in 2018 and came in with massive expectations. He was dominant in 2018 but hit a wall last year. For most of the year, he did not have feel for his slider, his best pitch, but found it towards the end of the year. He will likely get to AAA at some point and could have a shot at the majors this year with massive upside.

Next. Five affordable free agent starting pitchers. dark

The only one with any shot to make the opening day roster out of these three is Houck. He has upside as a starter and if the Red Sox trust him, he could crack the rotation fairly early. If Feltman can regain his dominance from 2018 he could wind up in the majors pretty fast. However, that is a big if. Gorst is probably the least likely of these three to see the majors this season though he is someone to watch in the minors.

Home/Red Sox News