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MINNEAPOLIS — A day after needing their bullpen to cover 6 ⅓ innings following Garrett Crochet’s career-worst start at Target Field, the Red Sox made a couple of roster moves in order to add a fresh arm with the ability to pitch multiple innings.
Boston called up right-hander Jack Anderson for his first major league stint and optioned lefty Tyler Samaniego to Triple-A Worcester, sources confirmed. To clear a 40-man spot for Anderson, the Red Sox moved injured right-hander Johan Oviedo to the 60-day injured list in a paper move that does not impact his timeline to return.
Anderson, a 26-year-old former minor league Rule 5 pick, last pitched Tuesday for the WooSox, so he’s available to pitch multiple innings if needed. The Florida State product served as a swingman between Double-A and Triple-A last year and is an organizational depth piece who will get the chance to pitch in the majors for the first time if he gets into a game.
“Good fastball, strike thrower,” manager Alex Cora said. “With what happened yesterday, it makes sense to have somebody that can go multiple innings either way. If things go sideways, he can come in and give us more than three innings. And if we’re winning by a lot, too. So it’s about taking care of the bullpen, which is the most important thing right now.”
A fresh arm was needed after Crochet recorded just five outs in a disastrous outing in which he allowed 11 runs (10 earned). The Red Sox used three different relievers (Jovani Morán, Samaniego and Ryan Watson) for at least two innings, leaving them thin behind starter Sonny Gray on Tuesday.
Samaniego was called up to the majors for the first time Wednesday and pitched in three games during his first stint. The lefty, acquired from the Pirates in the offseason deal that sent Johan Oviedo to Boston and Jhostynxon Garcia to Pittsburgh, pitched 3 ⅔ scoreless innings (including two Monday) and struck out four. He was the victim of a roster crunch with Watson (Rule 5 pick) and Morán (out of minor league options) unable to be sent to the minors freely.
Samaniego must stay in the minors for 15 days unless he replaces an injured player in the majors. Righty Tyler Uberstine, who made his major league debut earlier this month, was not yet eligible to return after being optioned on April 6, so the Red Sox instead went off the 40-man roster to select Anderson.
Oviedo was already on the 15-day IL with his stint backdated to March 31, so Tuesday’s move means he can’t be activated before May 30. That is not a surprising development considering that, due to a flexor strain in his throwing elbow, Oviedo was shut down from throwing for a six-week period last week. That timeline calls for him to resume playing catch in mid-May, meaning he wouldn’t be ready for game action by the end of that month anyway.
After experiencing arm stiffness in the wake of his season debut in Houston on March 30, Oviedo visited Dr. Keith Meister, an orthopedic surgeon, and had imaging taken. The check-up revealed no ligament damage for Oviedo and surgery wasn’t recommended, so the parties involved hope rest will be enough for the issue to subside.
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