Red Sox RHP: Nick Pivetta
What isn’t there to love about Nick Pivetta? The guy doesn’t moan and groan if his routine or schedule gets thrown off. If he has a bad day he shoulders the blame and when he does well he makes sure to heap praise on his teammates. After a stellar season with the Red Sox in 2021 he may go down as one of the best trades in Chaim Bloom’s short tenure.
Pivetta stunned when he arrived in Boston to close out 2020 and quickly became a fan favorite in 2021. He may not have the flashiest stuff in the rotation or will be considered the top dog of any staff, but he’s a damn good pitcher and can get the job done. Since Eduardo Rodriguez signed with Detroit his spot is now open for Pivetta to take it.
When I look back at Pivetta’s time with the Red Sox I’ll instantly go right to what he did leading up to the Postseason and then again in it. The man showed more emotion in the final month of the season than he probably had in his entire career. His four innings of relief in the ALDS is hero-level stuff and with each passing out you could see his confidence grow.
I have big expectations for Captain Canada in 2022 as he’s more than let Red Sox Nation know that he’s here to win. I think he has the potential to be one of those guys that can spark a team in a rut and be the backbone when they’re firing on all cylinders.