Red Sox: Alex Cora believes two returning relievers could have a big 2021

Red Sox skipper Alex Cora has faith in two returning relievers for 2021

We’re almost there Red Sox Nation! The offseason is slowly coming to an end and we’re a few short weeks away from pitchers and catchers making their way down to spring training camps. It feels like this winter has dragged on due to everything going on in the world but soon we’ll get that sweet relief known as baseball back in our lives. With that all said, this season is going to rest on the arms that Boston can trot to the mound and recently Alex Cora thumbed two that he feels will make a big difference.

The Sox were without plenty of familiar faces in the pitching department in 2020 but two relievers were shadows of their former selves. Josh Taylor and Darwinzon Hernandez both missed time at the beginning of the season due to positive COVID results and were rendered virtually ineffective once they appeared. Cora was a recent guest on both NESN’s “TC & Jerry Podcast,” and Barstool Sports’ “Section-10 Podcast,” this past week, and those two names were mentioned frequently by the skipper.

Cora was honest and open and made it clear that he didn’t miss a game from the Red Sox in 2021 despite serving a suspension and being let go from the team last winter. At one point during his visit to Section-10, host Jared Carrabis made a great point in that he said Cora always referred to Boston as “We,” and “Us.” Even when he wasn’t technically part of the organization, he was. So I’m not surprised to hear him speak about both Josh and Darwinzon in a way that he feels they could be massive players for his bullpen in 2021.

Both lefties made their MLB debuts under AC in 2019 and quickly made names for themselves as members of the Red Sox bullpen. Even with missing much of the pre-season this past year, they’re going to likely be cornerstones in Cora’s relief efforts going forward. With Brandon Workman gone and the inconsistencies of Matt Barnes and Ryan Brasier, having these two bullets in the chamber will be a necessity.

Hernandez would go 0-1 in his rookie season with a 4.45 ERA through 30.1 innings pitched. The big pro/con for Hernandez are both related to his control. When he’s on and firing he can’t be touched, to the tune of a 16.9 K/9 in 2019 and 14 K/9 in 2020. But when he’s off, he’s off big which led to a 7.7 BB/9 in 2019 and an 8.6 in 2020. He would only pitch 8.1 innings in 2020 but would finish off the year with a 2.16 ERA and 1-0 record.

More from Red Sox News

• Red Sox Nation deserves far more from Fenway Sports Group
• Bizarre trade deadline comes back to haunt Red Sox after Nathan Eovaldi departure
• Red Sox’ Moneyball-style offseason continues with Corey Kluber contract
• Rich Hill’s Red Sox departure puts him within striking distance of unique MLB record
• Red Sox offseason takes another nasty hit with Nathan Eovaldi departure

For Taylor, his strikeout rate may not be as flashy as Hernandez’s but his walk rate is far less, which is why Cora trusts him so much. Unlike some of the other arms in the bullpen, Taylor is less likely to give up the walk and will most likely find himself in late-game scenarios where we need someone with ice in their veins. He’s shown that he can get the job done when the ball is given to him and a clean bill of health should allow him to succeed again in 2021.

Taylor’s walk rate was incredibly low in his first big league season only averaging 3 free passes per nine innings. He also owned an 11.8 K/9 that season which is one of the reasons he’s earned the trust of Cora so much. Tossing 47.1 innings in his rookie campaign would also earn him a 2-2 record and a 3.04 ERA. Again, 2020 was rough, and saw his metrics all plummet seeing the lefty finish at a 1-1/9.82/7.1/1.636 clip with a 6.1 BB/9 and 8.6 K/9.

Boston’s pair of southpaw relievers are both in their mid-20’s and have loads of potential. And if there is anything baseball fans love it’s how much potential a player has. With Cora back at the helm of the ship heaping praise on them each will get their chance to shine and prove their worth again this season. Boston will need all hands on deck in order to surpass the low expectations going into this season. If they want to get as far away from the basement as possible, a healthy Talyor and Hernandez is one hell of a start to moving up the standings.