Red Sox sign veteran righty Sal Romano to minor-league deal

The Red Sox have signed free agent right-hander Sal Romano to a minor-league contract, per the club’s MLB.com transactions log. He has been assigned to Triple-A Worcester.

Romano, 30, is a veteran of five big-league seasons who last pitched in the majors for the Yankees in 2021. The righty was originally selected by the Reds in the 23rd round of the 2011 amateur draft out of Southington High School in Connecticut.

Signed for $450,000, Romano established himself as one of the top pitching prospects in Cincinnati’s farm system before making his major-league debut at the age of 23 in 2017. He posted a 4.45 ERA in 16 starts (87 innings) as a rookie and then struggled to a 5.31 ERA over 39 appearances (25 starts) spanning a career-high 145 2/3 innings in 2018.

After allowing 14 earned runs over just 16 1/3 innings pitched in 2019, Romano was designated for assignment by the Reds the following February. He cleared waivers and stuck in the organization without occupying a spot on the 40-man roster until he was summoned from the alternate training site in September. He made two scoreless — albeit brief — relief appearances towards the end of the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign and then made Cincinnati’s Opening Day roster the following spring.

To begin what would become a raucous 2021 season, Romano pitched to a 5.23 ERA in 20 2/3 innings out of the Reds bullpen before again being designated for assignment that May. He elected free agency shortly thereafter and quickly latched on with the Yankees on a minor-league deal. He made it up to New York in late July but appeared in just two games (including one against the Red Sox) before hitting waivers once more.

Romano was claimed by the Brewers in early August but spent less than two weeks (and got into one game at the big-league level) before being designated for assignment and outrighted off Milwaukee’s 40-man roster. He again opted for free agency and was scooped up by the Yankees. He appeared in two more games for New York before getting released in September.

Romano inked a minors pact with the Mariners before the start of the 2022 season but briefly retired from baseball. He returned to action in the 2022/2023 Venezuelan Winter League and then signed with the Gastonia Honey Hunters of the independent Atlantic League last April. In 28 outings (15 starts) for Gastonia, he went 4-5 with a 4.91 ERA and 75 strikeouts to 37 walks over 84 1/3 innings pitched.

Altogether, Romano owns a lifetime 5.23 ERA in 88 career appearances (41 starts, 275 1/3 innings) at the big-league level and a 4.91 ERA in Indy Ball. In 78 career outings (15 starts) at the Triple-A level, he has gone 6-13 with a 3.87 ERA and 133 strikeouts to 48 walks across 149 total innings of work.

Romano, who does not turn 31 until October, is listed at 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds. When he last pitched in the majors in 2021, he averaged 93.6 mph with his sinker, and 87.3 mph with his slider, per Baseball Savant. Throughout his career, those two offerings have more or less served as his bread and butter.

As of now, it is unclear if the Red Sox plan on deploying Romano as a starter or reliever in Worcester. Regardless of his role, he should provide the WooSox with experienced pitching depth moving forward.

(Picture of Sal Romano: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Red Sox promote relief prospect Isaac Stebens to High-A Greenville

The Red Sox have promoted relief prospect Isaac Stebens from Low-A Salem to High-A Greenville, per the club’s MiLB.com transactions log.

Stebens, 22, was taken by Boston in the 16th round of last year’s draft out of Oklahoma State. The Stillwater native signed for $150,000, but he did not pitch for a minor-league affiliate after logging 64 1/3 innings and earning NCBWA third-team All-American honors in his lone season with the Cowboys.

Instead, Stebens made his professional debut in Salem earlier this month. The right-hander appeared in six games for Boston’s Carolina League affiliate, allowing three runs (one earned) on seven hits, four walks, and 14 strikeouts over 11 innings of relief in which he held opposing hitters to a .179 batting average against. He also converted three of four save opportunities.

Listed at 6-feet and 194 pounds, Stebens has a unique delivery in which he throws from a low three-quarters arm slot and utilizes a minimal leg kick. He primarily operates with a sinking low-90s fastball that tops out at 95 mph as well as a high-70s slider, according to his SoxProspects.com scouting report.

Stebens, who does not turn 23 until December, is the third member of the Red Sox’ 2023 draft class to make the jump from Salem to Greenville so far this season. In that regard, he joins 12th-rounder Max Carlson and 18th-rounder Zach Fogell, though Carlson was sent back down to Salem on Tuesday after appearing in just one game for the Drive.

(Picture of Isaac Stebens: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox sign former Rays farmhand Michael Sansone out of Pioneer League

The Red Sox purchased the contract of left-hander Michael Sansone from the Yolo High Wheelers of the independent Pioneer League on Wednesday, per the club’s MLB.com transactions log.

Sansone, 24, originally signed with Yolo in early March but never pitched for the newly formed High Wheelers since the 2024 Pioneer League season does not start until next month. In fact, he becomes the first player in the team’s history to sign with a major-league organization.

Sansone has been assigned to Low-A Salem but has past experience in affiliated ball. After a four-year career (primarily as a starter) at Fairfield University, the Connecticut native went pro by signing with the Rays in July 2022. He debuted and made four scoreless relief appearances in the Florida Complex League before breaking camp with Tampa Bay’s Low-A affiliate last spring.

In 15 relief outings for the Charleston River Dogs, Sansone posted a 3.49 ERA and 3.10 FIP with 37 strikeouts to five walks over 28 1/3 innings in which he held opposing hitters to a .243 batting average against (that includes a .179 batting average for left-handed hitters). Despite those relatively strong numbers, the southpaw was released in late July.

Sansone attended a workout for unsigned free agents put together by the Red Sox over the winter. Boston’s scouting staff already knew of Sansone through their connections at Fairfield. Mark Heil, the club’s director of professional scouting, told The Athletic’s Melissa Lockard that “while Sansone doesn’t throw particularly hard,” he has “a good slider and changeup and excellent make-up.”

Like right-hander Danny Kirwin, who also officially signed with the Red Sox out of the Pioneer League on Wednesday, Sansone should provide Salem with additional bullpen depth in the early stages of the 2024 campaign. The 5-foot-9, 195-pound hurler joins fellow lefty Jojo Ingrassia in that regard.

(Picture of Michael Sansone: Bryan Green/Flickr)

Red Sox promote relief prospect Jonathan Brand to Double-A Portland

The Red Sox have promoted relief prospect Jonathan Brand from High-A Greenville to Double-A Portland, per the club’s MiLB.com transactions log.

Brand, 24, has yet to allow an earned run in six appearances for Greenville this season. The right-hander has given up just one unearned run on eight hits and three walks to go along with 18 strikeouts over 11 2/3 innings in which he has held opposing hitters to a .186 batting average against.

Brand was originally selected by the Red Sox in the eighth round of the 2022 amateur draft out of Miami University (Ohio). The Georgia native had committed to go to Auburn University as a graduate transfer, but he forwent that commitment by signing with Boston for just $7,500.

Since making his professional debut in the Florida Complex League in August 2022, Brand owns a career 1.90 ERA (2.90 FIP) in 37 total appearances (52 innings) across three different minor-league levels. That includes a 2.58 ERA (3.52 FIP) with 47 strikeouts to 14 walks in 29 relief outings (38 1/3 innings) for Low-A Salem last year.

Despite those impressive numbers, Brand is still not viewed as a top pitching prospect within Boston’s farm system. Per his SoxProspects.com scouting report, the 5-foot-9, 200-pound righty throws from a three-quarters arm slot and utilizes a medium leg kick in his delivery. He operates with a four-pitch mix that consists of an 89-90 mph fastball, a 74-76 mph curveball, an 80-82 mph slider, and an 80-82 mph changeup.

It remains to be seen if Brand’s first stint with Portland will be a short or long-lived one. Regardless, he takes the place of lefty Brendan Cellucci — who was promoted to Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday — in the Sea Dogs’ bullpen.

(Picture of Jonathan Brand: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox sign former Padres draft pick Adam Smith to minor-league deal, assign him to High-A Greenville

The Red Sox have purchased the contract of right-hander Adam Smith from the Evansville Otters of the independent Frontier League, per an announcement from the club.

Smith had just signed with Evansville in early March, so his tenure there did not last too long. The 23-year-old righty is a former 2021 14th-round draft selection of the Padres out of UNC Wilmington who spent the first three seasons of his professional career with San Diego before being released in December.

As was the case in 2022, Smith spent the entirety of the 2023 campaign with the Padres’ High-A affiliate in Fort Wayne, Ind. In 30 appearances for the TinCaps, Smith posted a 5.83 ERA and 4.49 FIP with 35 strikeouts to 21 walks over 41 2/3 innings of relief.

A native of West Chester, Pa., Smith spent his offseason working out at Ascent Athlete, a facility in nearby Garnet Valley. While there, “he made some changes to get to a more natural delivery and improve on his pitch shapes. Dropping his arm slot allowed him to unlock a whole new approach to pitching.”

According to a recent Instagram post from Ascent Athlete, Smith averaged 93.6 mph and topped out at 96.1 mph with his fastball. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound hurler also developed an “elite sweeper with some insane movement” and a changeup that “plays as a second out pitch” to both left- and right-handed hitters.

Smith, who turns 24 next month, has been assigned to High-A Greenville and will presumably contribute out of the bullpen for the Drive. With that, it should be interesting to see how he fares with a revamped pitch mix in his return to affiliated ball.

(Picture of Adam Smith: UNC Wilmington Athletics)

Red Sox purchase contract of righty Danny Kirwin from Oakland Ballers

The Red Sox have purchased the contract of right-hander Danny Kirwin from the Oakland Ballers of the independent Pioneer League, per an announcement from the club.

Kirwin will take a physical in Fort Myers, Fla. on Wednesday and is expected to join Boston’s Low-A affiliate in Salem, Va. once his signing becomes official, according to The Athletic’s Melissa Lockard. He becomes the first member of the newly-launched Ballers to have his contract purchased by a major-league organization.

Kirwin, 24, originally signed with the Ballers in December after spending five years at Rider University. Despite posting a 2.32 ERA with 67 strikeouts to 36 walks over 25 appearances (50 1/3 innings) and earning MAAC Relief Pitcher of the Year honors in 2023, the hard-throwing righty went undrafted.

Instead, Kirwin pitched for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers of the MLB Draft League and the Tri-City Chili Peppers of the Coastal Plain League last summer. He then spent his winter working out at Tread Athletics in North Carolina, where he saw his velocity increase considerably.

Last month, Lucas Still — a performance coach at Tread Athletics — posted a video to X (formerly known as Twitter) of Kirwin sitting between 95-97 mph and topping out at 97.7 mph with his fastball while mixing in a slider, changeup, and cutter. Still also posted a pitch metrics report from a recent bullpen session that had Kirwin at 95.1 mph with his four-seamer, 91.8 mph with his cutter, 85 mph with his sweeper/slider, 93.5 mph with his sinker, and 85.5 mph with his changeup.

This past Saturday, Ballers manager Micah Franklin tweeted out a video of Kirwin throwing up to 98 mph during one of his bullpens. The Red Sox, as noted by Lockard, caught wind of that video and wasted little time in reaching out and securing the 6-foot-2, 205-pound hurler’s services.

(Picture of Danny Kirwin: Rider University Athletics)

Red Sox’ Matthew Lugo named Eastern League Player of the Week

Red Sox prospect Matthew Lugo has been named the Eastern League Player of the Week for the week of April 15-21, Minor League Baseball announced on Monday.

Lugo appeared in five of Double-A Portland’s six games against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats at Hadlock Field this past week. The right-handed hitting 22-year-old went 7-for-16 (.438) with three doubles, one triple, one home run, 10 RBIs, three runs scored, five walks, and four strikeouts.

Lugo played hero for the Sea Dogs on more than just one occasion during their latest series. He came through with a game-winning, three-run triple in the eighth inning of Tuesday’s 5-2 win over the Fisher Cats, then drove in the first two runs of a 3-0 victory on Wednesday. He also homered and collected a game-high four RBIs on Saturday and doubled in a run on Sunday to extend his hitting streak to six games.

On the 2024 season as a whole, Lugo is now batting a stout .357/.471/.857 with three doubles, one triple, three homers, 12 runs driven in, five runs scored, six walks, and eight strikeouts through nine games (34 plate appearances) for Portland. He currently leads a talented Sea Dogs team in batting average, slugging percentage, OPS (1.328), and total bases with 24.

Lugo, who turns 23 next month, is repeating Double-A this year after struggling to a .242/.297/.381 slash line in 83 games (318 plate appearances) with the Sea Dogs in 2023. The former 2019 second-round draft selection out of the Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy in Puerto Rico was regarded by SoxProspects.com as a top-15 prospect organization around this time last season but has since dropped from the site’s rankings completely.

The nephew of Beltran himself, Lugo initially came up as an infielder after signing with Boston for $1.1 million in June 2019. More recently, however, the 6-foot-1, 190-pounder has transitioned to the outfield. So far this season, he has made a team-leading eight starts in left field for the Sea Dogs and has yet to commit an error over 64 2/3 innings.

Given that this is the third straight season in which Lugo has appeared in at least one game for the Sea Dogs, it should be interesting to see if he can force his way up to Triple-A Worcester sooner rather than later. He certainly couldn’t ask for a better start this year, though.

(Picture of Matthew Lugo: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox promote pitching prospect Max Carlson to High-A Greenville

The Red Sox have promoted pitching prospect Max Carlson from Low-A Salem to High-A Greenville, according to the club’s MiLB.com transactions log.

Carlson, 22, has made three appearances out of the Salem bullpen to begin his first full professional season. The right-hander has allowed seven runs (five earned) on nine hits and four walks to go along with 14 strikeouts over 8 1/3 innings of relief. That translates to a 5.40 ERA, though he owns a more favorable 3.60 FIP and 2.98 xFIP.

A native of Minnesota, Carlson was selected by Boston in the 12th round of last year’s draft out of the University of North Carolina. The former Tar Heel was ranked by Baseball America as the No. 385 prospect in his class. He signed with the Red Sox for $150,000 and made his pro debut in the Florida Complex League, tossing a scoreless sixth inning in his lone outing of the year.

Listed at 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, Carlson throws from a three-quarters arm slot and utilizes a full wind-up in his delivery. The righty operates with a three-pitch mix that consists of a 90-93 mph that tops out at 95 mph, a whiff-inducing changeup that sits in the low-80s, and an infrequently-used 81-84 mph slider, per his SoxProspects.com scouting report.

Carlson, who does not turn 23 until September, is the second member of Boston’s 2023 draft class to earn a promotion in as many weeks. Lefty Zach Fogell, the club’s 18th-round pick out of Connecticut, also made the jump from Salem to Greenville last Friday.

In addition to promoting Carlson, the Red Sox added outfielder Kelvin Diaz to Salem’s roster from extended spring training. Diaz, 21, stole 21 bases in 48 Florida Complex League games last season. He originally signed with Boston for $300,000 as an international free agent coming out of the Dominican Republic in July 2019.

(Picture of Max Carlson: Eakin Howard/Getty Images)

Top Red Sox prospect Marcelo Mayer off to strong start with Double-A Portland

After a winter full of skepticism, shortstop Marcelo Mayer is using the early stages of the minor-league season to show why he should still be considered the top prospect in the Red Sox organization.

To begin the 2024 campaign, Mayer has strung together a seven-game hitting streak for Double-A Portland. Following Sunday’s 9-5 win over the Reading Fightin Phils, the left-handed hitter is now 10-for-28 (.357) with one double, one home run, five RBIs, seven runs scored, two stolen bases, two walks, and eight strikeouts for the Sea Dogs.

On the other side of the ball, Mayer has seen all of his playing time on the field to this point in the season come at shortstop. The 6-foot-3, 188-pounder has logged a team-leading 50 innings at short thus far and has yet to commit an error.

Still just 21 years old, Mayer really couldn’t ask for a better start after what went down last season. The former fourth overall pick in the 2021 draft suffered a left shoulder impingement while with High-A Greenville early in the year and attempted to play through the discomfort. He managed to make it to Portland and represent the Red Sox at the All-Star Futures Game over the summer, but he struggled mightily at the plate before going on the injured list — and ultimately being shut down — in the first week of August.

Mayer received a pain-killing injection in September and spent his offseason rehabbing at home in Chula Vista, Calif., and at the Red Sox’ JetBlue Park complex in Fort Myers, Fla. He focused on building strength back up in that injured shoulder and was deemed a “full go” for Boston’s rookie development program in January.

Though he did not receive an invite to major-league spring training, Mayer got into two Grapefruit League games (as well as the Spring Breakout prospect showcase) and made his impact felt in other areas before breaking camp with Portland for the start of his third full professional season. As Red Sox director of player development Brian Abraham recently told MLB.com’s Ian Browne, Mayer appears to be benefitting from the work he put in during the offseason.

“He worked incredibly hard throughout his progression in the offseason and spring training to prepare for the 2024 season,” said Abraham. “Whether that be rehab-related, strength-related, on-field performance-related, we saw a player working with an intent to be an impact player this season and moving forward. It’s been great to see him continue to mature both on and off the baseball field.”

Mayer, who does not turn 22 until December, is currently regarded by MLB Pipeline as the No. 1 prospect in Boston’s farm system and the No. 15 prospect in all of baseball. If he continues to produce the way he has been to start the season, it will not be long until he garners consideration for a promotion to Triple-A Worcester. From there, the big-leagues are only one call away.

“Continue to become an improved all-around player,” Abraham said when asked about the organization’s developmental goals for Mayer this season. “Improve his range in the field and keep looking to impact the baseball. Have the continued ability to add good weight and strength. Offensively, it’s focusing on pitches within the zone he can do damage with. In simpler terms, increasing his walk percentage and decreasing his strikeout percentage will allow him to be a better overall hitter and maximize his potential.”

Mayer, for his part, explained his own mindset when speaking with WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford on the ‘Baseball Isn’t Boring’ podcast earlier this month. He did so while emphasizing that his shoulder felt great.

“I think I do feel close, but obviously I need to handle business here (in Double-A) first. I need to handle business in Triple-A. So there is still two levels to go,” Mayer said. “I feel close. I feel ready to go, excited for the new year. I’m ready to show myself and what I’m able to do. Again, I’m healthy.”

(Picture of Marcelo Mayer: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox promote relief prospect Zach Fogell to High-A Greenville

The Red Sox have promoted relief prospect Zach Fogell from Low-A Salem to High-A Greenville, according to MiLB.com’s transactions log.

Fogell, 23, appeared in just two games for Salem to start the 2024 minor-league season. The left-hander allowed two hits and one walk to go along with seven strikeouts over 5 1/3 scoreless innings of relief in which he held opposing hitters to a .111 batting average against.

A native of Rhode Island, Fogell was selected by the Red Sox in the 18th round of last year’s amateur draft out of the University of Connecticut. He signed with Boston for $150,000 and made his professional debut in the Florida Complex League before first arriving in Salem last August.

Since entering the pro ranks a little less than nine months ago, Fogell has yet to surrender an earned run in seven total appearances (10 innings) between the FCL and Salem. He also got into a pair of major-league spring training games earlier this year and did not give up a run in 1 1/3 innings there, either.

Listed at 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, Fogell throws from a three-quarters arm slot and incorporates a medium leg kick into his delivery. The southpaw operates with a three-pitch mix that consists of a 92-94 mph fastball with late sink, an 88-90 mph changeup with arm-side run, and a sweepy 80-82 slider, per his SoxProspects.com scouting report.

Fogell, who turns 24 in July, is not currently regarded by any major publication as one of the top pitching prospects in Boston’s farm system. He joins fellow 2023 draftees Kristian Campbell, Connelly Early, Caden Rose, and Cade Feeney on Greenville’s active roster.

In addition to promoting Fogell to Greenville, the Red Sox added right-hander Trennor O’Donnell to Salem’s roster from extended spring training. Like Fogell, O’Donnell was drafted in the eighth round last year but has yet to make his professional debut.

(Picture of Zach Fogell: Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)