The Boston Red Sox once placed their hopes on the arm of Tyler Thornburg but injuries derailed those plans and now the righty is heading elsewhere.
In the winter of 2016, the Red Sox sent a bundle of prospects to Milwaukee for the services of right-handed reliever Tyler Thornburg. At the time the pitcher was just 28-years-old and had plenty of potential for a solid future. Unfortunately, as soon as he put on that Boston cap things rapidly went downhill.
Earlier today it was reported by Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer and confirmed by MLB Trade Rumors that Thornburg would be receiving a minor league offer from the Reds. Tyler would split his 2019 between the Red Sox and Dodgers minor league systems, as well as some time at Fenway Park. It was a rough season as he posted a 7.71 ERA through 18.2 innings in the majors.
2017 would start with a dark cloud over the righty as he began the year on the Injured List and would later need season-ending surgery to repair his Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. TOS is a condition where the individual suffers from compression of the nerves, arteries, and veins from the armpit area to the neck.
Considering that region of the body is pretty damn important to a pitcher I think it was a wise idea to go under the knife and get the TOS corrected. 2018 would soon be at our doorsteps and Red Sox Nation won’t be forgetting that campaign anytime soon. What will go down as the best Sox team in franchise history from Opening Day until they raised the Commissioner’s Trophy, it was a sight to see.
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During his first actual season with the Sox, he would show some promise having a 5.63 ERA in 63 IP with a 7.9 K/9. Not bad, however, his 1.583 WHIP with a 10/21 BB/K ratio would do him in and put a damper on any positives surrounding his name. Considering he was coming off of a season-ending surgery, I can’t hate on the numbers too much.
I know this probably seems more negative than positive and as far as the Red Sox are concerned, it was. They gave away a decent haul for the righty and luckily for them the prospects they shipped off haven’t panned out either. So despite them giving away some solid hopefuls, it worked out that none of them came back to bite them in the backside.
I understand why Dave Dombrowski would’ve made the deal he did to get Thornburg as he was coming off of a massive year for the Brewers. In 2016 the reliever tossed 67 innings and finished his season with a 2.15 ERA and .940 WHIP. I would’ve thrown the farm at him too especially with the Red Sox needing quality relievers.
It just wasn’t meant to be for Tyler Thornburg and the Red Sox. What should’ve been a great marriage just didn’t play out as it does in the movies. He’ll get a new chance in Cinncinati with a team that is definitely eager to perform well in 2020. If he can get himself healthy and get his stuff back to where it was in 2016 or at least in the ballpark, then he can have a hell of a comeback season.