Red Sox Notes: Crawford, Mills, Wong, Tapia

Proper-hander Kutter Crawford will start the season within the Purple Sox’s rotation, supervisor Alex Cora confirmed (link via Alex Speier of the Boston Globe). He’s anticipated to take the ball for the fourth sport of the season, the opener of a collection in opposition to the Pirates.

It’s not more likely to be a long-term stint. Crawford steps in with Garrett Whitlock and Brayan Bello each opening the yr on the 15-day injured listing. Whitlock, particularly, is predicted again halfway by the season’s first month. Assuming every of Corey Kluber, Chris Sale, Tanner Houck and Nick Pivetta stay wholesome by that time, Crawford may discover himself in lengthy aid or optioned again to Triple-A Worcester. Potential returns from Bello and James Paxton afterward would push him additional down the depth chart.

Crawford, 27 subsequent month, began 12 of 21 outings for the Sox final season. He pitched to a 5.47 ERA in 77 1/3 innings total, although his 23.1% strikeout share and eight.7% stroll charge had been each strong. He predictably missed extra bats in aid than he did as a starter however threw extra strikes when working from the rotation.

In different information out of Boston:

• Reliever Wyatt Mills has been shut down from throwing after experiencing elbow irritation, Speier writes. Thankfully, the difficulty is believed to be muscular relatively than structural. Mills nonetheless appears more likely to open the season on the 15-day IL however there doesn’t look like concern a few long-term absence despite the ominous-sounding analysis. Boston acquired the righty from the Royals over the winter, sending minor league reliever Jacob Wallace again to Kansas Metropolis. Mills cut up the 2022 marketing campaign between Seattle and Ok.C., throwing 29 1/3 frames of 4.60 ERA ball. He nonetheless has a minor league possibility yr remaining and wasn’t a lock to crack the season-opening bullpen.
• Catcher Connor Wong was hampered by a left hamstring pressure early in camp. Whereas the difficulty initially appeared as if it may result in a season-opening IL stint, Wong now seems on monitor to be prepared for Opening Day. Cora instructed reporters yesterday the 26-year-old backstop was a “full go” at this level (relayed by Ian Browne of MLB.com). With every week left till the beginning of the common season, he must be in place to open the yr on the roster. Wong and Reese McGuire are the 2 backstops on the 40-man. The catching outlook is one space the Sox should type out within the coming days, as Boston may lose minor league signee Jorge Alfaro to an upward mobility clause in his contract in the event that they’re not prepared to place him on the MLB membership. Alfaro has been on a tear in Spring Coaching, accumulating 11 hits (together with two homers) in 21 at-bats.
• Like Alfaro, Raimel Tapia is a veteran in camp on a minor league deal. The lefty-hitting outfielder is battling for a depth position behind the presumptive beginning outfield of Masataka Yoshida, Adam Duvall and Alex Verdugo. Righty-swinging Rob Refsnyder is a digital lock to safe a bench position, as is a backup catcher. That’d go away two spots, considered one of which appears more likely to go to an infielder. Tapia brings plus contact abilities and velocity, although he’s not a prototypical fourth outfielder contemplating he’s spent the majority of his profession in left subject. Chad Jennings of the Athletic writes that Boston is more and more open to utilizing Tapia in heart subject, the place he performed a career-high 249 2/3 innings for Toronto final season. That might improve his probabilities of making the roster, notably since his skillset can be complementary to that of Duvall. Tapia is 13-40 with two walks, six strikeouts and a pair of homers this spring.