Unknown Red Sox Prospect Appears To Be Rising Star After Masterful Chaim Bloom Trade
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The Boston Red Sox starting pitching staff is starting to come together as players on the big league roster have come back from various injuries.
However, full strength or not, the Red Sox have struggled to find anyone to man the backend of the bullpen with any kind of consistency.
Boston has leaned on waiver wire pickups and veterans past their prime to fill those roles. The Red Sox haven't had a prospect to look toward that could potentially take one of those roster spots -- until now.
Right-hander Theo Denlinger was promoted to Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday after a fantastic start in his first year with the Red Sox organization.
Denlinger posted a 2.29 ERA with a 20-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio, an astounding .149 batting average against and 0.86 WHIP in 19 2/3 innings for the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs this season.
Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom traded right-hander Franklin German to the Chicago White Sox for Denlinger over the winter. German has since been designated for assignment while Denlinger appears to be the most promising young reliever to potentially grab a spot on the big league roster this season.
The 26-year-old prospect has a fastball that can climb into the upper 90s and a slider that can be a plus pitch with some consistency.
Given the Red Sox's need to fill the back end of the bullpen, Denlinger will have a solid opportunity to prove himself with the WooSox and carve a path to Boston. Denlinger is a prospect worth paying attention to.
More MLB: MLB Insider Names Rumored Chaim Bloom Replacement If Red Sox's Season Goes Awry
