Red Sox Recall Masterson, Send Castillo and Wright to Pawtucket
Red Sox news release…
BOSTON, MA – The Boston Red Sox today announced the following roster moves:
· Right-handed pitcher Justin Masterson was activated from the 15-day disabled list. To make room for him on the 25-man roster, right-handed pitcher Steven Wright was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket.
· Catcher Erik Kratz was added to the active major league roster. To make room for him, outfielder Rusney Castillo was optioned to Pawtucket.
Masterson and Kratz (wearing No. 46) will be active for tonight’s series opener against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park beginning at 7:10 p.m.
Executive Vice President/General Manager Ben Cherington made the announcement.
Masterson, 30, was placed on the disabled list on May 14 (retroactive to May 13) with right shoulder tendinitis. In four starts on a rehab assignment, including three with Pawtucket and one with Double-A Portland, he went 0-2 with a 3.44 ERA (7 ER/18.1 IP). He last pitched on June 16 for the PawSox in Charlotte and held the White Sox affiliate to two runs in 6.0 innings. Masterson began the year with seven starts for the Red Sox, allowing three runs or fewer in four of them. Overall this year, he is 2-2 with a 6.37 ERA (25 ER/35.1 IP) and 24 strikeouts. In 247 career major league appearances (182 starts) between the Red Sox (2008-09, 2015), Indians (2009-14), and Cardinals (2014), he has combined to go 62-74 with a 4.31 ERA (563 ER/1,177.0 IP) and 979 strikeouts.
Kratz, 35, was claimed off waivers from the Royals on Sunday. He had been designated for assignment by Kansas City on June 11 following a stint on the 15-day disabled list due to plantar fasciitis. The right-handed batter appeared in four major league games this season, making one start. At the plate, he was hitless in four at-bats with one RBI on a sacrifice fly. In 15 games for Triple-A Omaha this season, he batted .214 (12-for-62) with seven runs, two doubles, four homers, 12 RBI, and five walks. A veteran of parts of six major league seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates (2010), Philadelphia Phillies (2011-13), Toronto Blue Jays (2014), and Royals (2014-15), Kratz is a career .217 (107-for-492) hitter with 21 doubles, 23 homers, 67 RBI, and 35 walks in 180 games. The native of Harrisonburg, VA was originally signed as a 29th round selection in the 2002 June Draft by the Blue Jays.
Castillo, 27, was recalled from Pawtucket on May 22 and made 26 appearances with the major league club, starting 14 games in right field and four in center field. He hit .230 (17-for-74) with six runs scored, a double, a home run, and six RBI, batting .462 (6-for-13) with two outs and runners in scoring position. The Cuban native has appeared nine times in center field (eight starts) and six times in right field (all starts) for Pawtucket this season, batting .293 (22-for-75) with eight runs scored, five doubles, two home runs, 10 RBI, and six stolen bases. Castillo has played in 36 career major league games since signing with the Red Sox on August 23, 2014, hitting .264 (29-for-110) with 12 runs scored, two doubles, three home runs, and 12 RBI.
Wright, 30, has made 11 appearances (four starts) over three major league stints with the Red Sox in 2015, combining to go 3-2 with a 4.15 ERA (20 ER/43.1 IP), 24 strikeouts, and .246 opponent average. The right-handed knuckleballer, who began the year on Boston’s Opening Day roster, last appeared for the major league club on June 20 at Kansas City, allowing one run on one hit in 0.2 innings. He has worked exclusively as a starter with the PawSox this season, posting a 2-1 record, 3.24 ERA (9 ER/25.0 IP), and 26 strikeouts in four outings. Over his major league career, Wright has gone 5-3 with a 3.94 ERA (34 ER/77.2 IP) in 21 games (six starts), all with the Red Sox (2013-15).
