Ex-Red Sox Fireballer, Champion Reportedly Released After Short Stint With AL Central Club
The Detroit Tigers were busy Sunday afternoon.
Detroit not only played a game but also made a few roster moves. The Tigers took down the Colorado Rockies and also released two relief pitchers, including former Boston Red Sox hurler Heath Hembree, according to Detroit News' Chris McCosky.
"Tigers have released two veteran RHPs who were on minors deals: Heath Hembree and Trevor Rosenthal," McCosky said.
Hembree has missed much of the 2023 campaign due to injury, but signed with the Tigers to a minor league contract in May after being designated for assignment by the Tampa Bay Rays. The 34-year-old made six appearances for the Toledo Mud Hens and pitched to a 3.00 ERA while striking out six batters across six innings of work.
The righty has been a journeyman throughout his career. Hembree was drafted in the fifth round of the 2010 MLB June Amateur Draft and made his big league debut in 2013. The 34-year-old was traded to the Red Sox ahead of the 2014 season and he was with the club for over six seasons before being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in 2020. In his Red Sox career, Hembree was a solid contributor to the 2018 World Series-winning club and he compiled a 3.70 ERA across 251 appearances while striking out 270 batters in 257 2/3 innings pitched.
Hembree has a career 4.37 ERA across 11 big league seasons. He now will look to latch on with a new club. The righty made one appearance at the big league level in 2023 with the Tampa Bay Rays and didn't allow a run. Boston's bullpen depth has been tested this season so a reunion could possibly make sense on a minor league deal, but there's no way to know for sure what will happen next with the hurler.
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