relievers – Blogging the Red Sox

Red Sox place Richard Bleier on 15-day injured list, recall Brennan Bernardino from Triple-A Worcester

Before opening a three-game series against the Angels in Anaheim on Monday night, the Red Sox placed veteran reliever Richard Bleier on the 15-day injured list due to left shoulder inflammation. In a corresponding move, fellow left-hander Brennan Bernardino was recalled from Triple-A Worcester, the club announced.

Bleier made his 19th appearance of the season for Boston in Sunday’s 7-0 loss to the Padres in San Diego. Over 1 1/3 innings, the 36-year-old gave up one run on one hit, which came on a solo homer off the bat of the left-handed hitting Matt Carpenter in the bottom of the third.

Following Sunday’s performance, Bleier now owns a 5.85 ERA and 5.44 FIP with 12 strikeouts to three walks across 20 innings of relief in his first season with the Red Sox. While the southpaw has excelled when it comes to getting batters to chase (36.6 percent chase rate) and not giving up free passes (3.4 percent walk rate), he has struggled in other areas.

According to Baseball Savant, Bleier currently ranks in the 10th percentile of all big-league pitchers in expected batting average (.291). He also ranks in the 13th percentile in expected slugging percentage (.498), the seventh percentile in strikeout rate (13.8 percent), the fourth percentile in whiff rate (16.3 percent), the first percentile in fastball velocity (86.9 mph), and the third percentile in fastball spin.

Acquired from the Marlins for Matt Barnes and cash considerations in late January, Bleier was brought in to tame opposing left-handed hitters out of the bullpen. As was the case on Sunday, though, Bleier has not had the best of time against lefties and is actually faring better against righties.

So far, lefties are hitting a stout .429/.467/.786 with one double and three home runs in 31 trips to the plate against Bleier this season. Righties, on the other hand, are batting just .231/.268/.346 with three doubles and one home run over 56 plate appearances.

At this point in time, it remains to be seen if Bleier will require more than 15 days on the injured list. If that is not the case, Bleier will first be eligible to be activated on Tuesday, June 6, when the Red Sox open a three-game set against the Guardians in Cleveland.

Bernardino, meanwhile, is up with Boston for the second time this season. The 31-year-old was optioned to Worcester last Tuesday, but he actually joined the big-league club in San Diego over the weekend as a member of the taxi squad. He was eligible to be called up on Monday since he is replacing an injured player.

Claimed off waivers from the Mariners in mid-April, Bernardino has appeared in 11 games for the Red Sox thus far. In that time frame, the native Californian has pitched to a 3.65 ERA (4.75 FIP) with 10 strikeouts to three walks over 12 1/3 innings of work.

With Bleier going on the injured list, Bernardino joins Joely Rodriguez as the only two lefties available to manager Alex Cora out of the Red Sox bullpen.

(Picture of Richard Bleier: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Red Sox likely to place John Schreiber on injured list with right lat tightness

Red Sox reliever John Schreiber is likely going to be placed on the injured list after leaving Monday night’s 10-1 loss to the Mariners at Fenway Park with right lat tightness, according to manager Alex Cora.

Schreiber came on in the seventh inning and struck out the first batter he faced in Ty France. The right-hander then delivered a 2-1, 93.3 mph sinker to Julio Rodriguez and could immediately be seen flexing his throwing arm on the mound.

That prompted Cora and head athletic trainer Brandon Henry to emerge from the Red Sox dugout. After a lengthy conference on the mound, Schreiber left the field with Henry and was replaced by lefty Richard Bleier.

When speaking with reporters following Monday’s blowout loss, Schreiber indicated to reporters (including MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo) that he had been dealing with discomfort in the area of his lat (the latissimus dorsi muscle) on his right side over the last few days and reaggravated it on his final pitch to Rodriguez.

“It has been tight a little bit this past week,” explained Schreiber. “I was throwing some bullpens, it was coming out good. It felt like something I could get through… Tonight, it was coming out really good, I thought. That last pitch, maybe a little bit too much extension there, and it tightened up.”

Including Monday’s outing, Schreiber now owns a 2.12 ERA and 1.29 WHIP with 21 strikeouts to eight walks in 18 relief appearances (17 innings) for Boston this season. Though the Red Sox are optimistic that the 29-year-old’s stint on the injured list will only last the minimum 15 days, the structure of the bullpen will change in his absence.

As noted by Cotillo, this will be Schreiber’s first injured list stint as a major-leaguer. The righty is slated to undergo further testing on Tuesday and that will likely provide a more concrete timeline for his recovery.

“I’m frustrated, obviously, that I’m not going to be able to compete for, I don’t know how long,” Schreiber said. “We’re going to evaluate tomorrow. Hopefully, some really good results. We’ll see what happens.”

Schreiber is not the only reliever the Red Sox will be replacing on Tuesday. Left-hander Brennan Bernardino was also optioned to Triple-A Worcester after allowing one run over 1 1/3 innings of relief on Monday night.

It is not yet known who will be taking the place of Schreiber and Bernardino on the big-league roster. Potential candidates include Justin Garza and Kaleb Ort, who are both on the 40-man roster, as well as Jake Faria, Oddanier Mosqueda, Andrew Politi, and Ryan Sheriff, who are not on the 40-man roster.

With that being said, the Red Sox have an opening on their 40-man roster after designating Ryan Brasier for assignment on Monday. It is also worth mentioning that Kutter Crawford — who has been sidelined by a left hamstring strain since May 4 — is expected to come off the injured list on Friday.

(Picture of John Schreiber and Brandon Henry: Paul Rutherford/Getty Images)

Red Sox activate Joely Rodríguez from injured list, officially designate Ryan Brasier for assignment

Before opening a three-game series against the Mariners at Fenway Park on Monday night, the Red Sox made a pair of roster moves relating to their bullpen.

Boston reinstated left-handed reliever Joely Rodriguez from the 15-day injured list and officially designated veteran reliever Ryan Brasier for assignment, the club announced.

Rodriguez signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Red Sox in November after posting a 4.47 ERA (3.23 FIP) in 55 relief appearances (50 1/3 innings) for the Mets last season. The 31-year-old southpaw was slated to be one of two left-handers in Boston’s Opening Day bullpen alongside Richard Bleier, but he suffered a Grade 2 right oblique strain towards the end of spring training and began the 2023 campaign on the injured list as a result.

In five rehab outings between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester, Rodriguez allowed one earned run on four hits, one walk, and nine strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings. The Dominican-born hurler last pitched on Saturday, so he should be available for Monday’s series opener against Seattle.

By activating Rodriguez, the Red Sox now have three lefties available out of the bullpen. While Rodriguez and Bleier have been with the club since spring training, Brennan Bernardino was added to the mix after being claimed off waivers from the Mariners last month.

Brasier, meanwhile, first informed reporters on Sunday night that he had been designated for assignment. The 35-year-old had just surrendered three runs on four hits (including a two-run home run to Nolan Arenado) over a career-high 2 1/3 innings in the Sox’ 9-1 loss to the Cardinals.

Coming off of that outing, Brasier saw his ERA on the season rise to 7.29 ERA in 20 appearances (21 innings) for Boston. Though a 4.39 FIP suggests that Brasier was the victim of some bad luck, the Red Sox clearly felt it was time to move on and go in a new direction.

“Obviously, no hard feelings,” Brasier said late Sunday night. “Like I said, I know it’s a business. And things happen. But hopefully get picked up in a day or two and try to go win somewhere else.”

Brasier had been the third-longest tenured member of the Red Sox behind only Chris Sale and Rafael Devers. Boston now has the next seven days to either trade, release, or waive Brasier, who is still owed roughly $1.5 million of his $2 million salary for the 2023 season.

Following this series of transactions, the Red Sox now have 39 players on their 40-man roster. More moves will be coming soon, as Kutter Crawford (left hamstring strain) is expected to be activated from the injured list as soon as he is eligible to on Friday.

(Picture of Joely Rodriguez: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox option Kaleb Ort to Triple-A Worcester ahead of Chris Martin’s return from injured list

The Red Sox optioned reliever Kaleb Ort to Triple-A Worcester following Saturday night’s 8-7 win over the Guardians, according to The Boston Globe’s Julian McWilliams.

By optioning Ort, the Red Sox have cleared a roster spot for fellow reliever Chris Martin, who is expected to be activated from the 15-day injured list ahead of Sunday’s series finale against Cleveland.

Ort, 31, has posted a 7.30 ERA and 6.27 FIP with 12 strikeouts to six walks in 12 relief appearances spanning 12 1/3 innings of work out of the Boston bullpen so far this season. The right-hander last pitched against the Orioles on Tuesday, allowing five runs (four earned) on four hits (two home runs) in just one-third of an inning.

When Ort entered that game in Baltimore, the Red Sox had an 8-1 lead over the O’s. By giving up five runs and only recording one out, Ort forced manager Alex Cora to bring in closer Kenley Jansen, who notched the save and secured an 8-6 win by retiring the only two batters he faced.

Though the Red Sox remain intrigued by Ort’s arsenal, particularly his upper-90s fastball, the righty has yet to find success on a consistent basis at the big-league level. He will now look to sort things out in Worcester, where he pitched to a 2.88 ERA in 39 appearances (40 2/3 innings) last year.

Martin, meanwhile, was placed on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation on April 16 (retroactive to April 13). The 36-year-old underwent an MRI after reporting arm discomfort, but the results revealed only inflammation as opposed to any sort of structural damage.

As such, Martin was never expected to be out of action for too long. After dealing with a stomach bug earlier this week, the veteran hurler made a rehab appearance for the WooSox at Polar Park on Friday night and allowed two unearned runs on two hits in one inning of work.

“I feel like I got what I needed [from the rehab outing] and today I feel good,” Martin told The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier at Fenway Park earlier Saturday afternoon. “I’m starting to feel better. I’ve just got to keep with the process and keep working on the tedious things.”

Martin, who turns 37 in June, signed a two-year, $17.5 million with the Red Sox back in December. Prior to going on the injured list, he posted a 2.57 ERA and 5.06 FIP with two strikeouts and one walk through his first seven outings (seven innings) of the season.

(Picture of Kaleb Ort: Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Red Sox claim righty reliever Justin Garza off waivers from Angels

The Red Sox have claimed right-hander Justin Garza off waivers from the Angels and optioned him to Triple-A Worcester, the club announced earlier Friday afternoon. A corresponding move was not needed since Boston had an open spot on its 40-man roster.

Garza, 29, was designated for assignment by the Angels last week after not appearing in a game for Los Angeles to start the 2023 season. The righty instead began the year in Triple-A Salt Lake after being optioned there last month. In six relief appearances for the Bees, he posted a 4.32 ERA with five strikeouts to four walks over 8 1/3 innings of work.

A native of California, Garza was originally selected by the Guardians in the eighth round of the 2015 amateur draft out of Cal State Fullerton. He spent six years in Cleveland’s minor-league system before making his major-league debut in June 2021.

With the Guardians (then the Indians), Garza forged a 4.71 ERA and 5.30 FIP to go along with 29 strikeouts to 18 walks in 21 appearances (28 2/3 innings). He was outrighted off Cleveland’s 40-man roster that November and spent the entirety of the 2022 campaign with Triple-A Columbus before reaching free agency last winter.

Garza signed a split deal with the Angels in December, but his stay in Los Angeles proved to be a short one. He lost his spot on the Halos’ 40-man roster after veteran catcher Chad Wallach and fellow reliever Austin Warren had their contracts selected from Salt Lake last Friday.

Listed at 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds, Garza operates with a five-pitch mix that consists of a sinker, a cutter, a slider, a changeup, and a four-seam fastball, per Baseball Savant. For his career at the Triple-A level — which spans three seasons — Garza owns a lifetime 3.67 ERA with 86 strikeouts to 36 walks in 57 outings spanning 72 2/3 innings of relief.

With that, Garza should provide the Red Sox with some experienced bullpen depth in Worcester. He has three minor-league options remaining and is only on the hook for the major-league minimum.

By adding Garza via waivers, Boston’s 40-man roster is now at full capacity.

(Picture of Justin Garza: Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Red Sox outright Jake Faria to Triple-A Worcester

The Red Sox designated Jake Faria for assignment on Monday after recalling Jarren Duran from Triple-A Worcester and activating Brayan Bello from the 15-day injured list.

Faria spent two days in limbo before being outrighted off Boston’s 40-man roster on Wednesday. Because he has previously been outrighted, the right-hander had the ability to refuse an outright assignment to the minor-leagues in favor of free agency.

It appears as though Faria has accepted his assignment and re-joined the WooSox. The 29-year-old gave up a solo home run and struck out one in the seventh inning of a 7-4 victory over the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in Allentown, Pa. on Thursday night.

In four relief appearances for Worcester this season, Faria has now allowed seven earned runs on five hits (three home runs), six walks, and six strikeouts over six innings of work. He is currently holding opposing hitters to a .217 batting average against.

Faria originally signed a minor-league deal with the Red Sox in February after spending the 2022 season in the Twins organization. The former Rays, Brewers, and Diamondbacks hurler received an invitation to big-league spring training and broke camp with the WooSox last month.

After placing reliever Chris Martin on the 15-day injured list due to right shoulder inflammation last Sunday, the Red Sox found themselves in need of a fresh arm and selected Faria’s contract from Triple-A. They made room for Faria on the 40-man roster by transferring fellow righty Wyatt Mills (right elbow inflammation) to the 60-day injured list.

Faria was available out of the bullpen at Fenway Park on Sunday but was not needed as Garrett Whitlock, Kaleb Ort, and Ryan Brasier combined for nine innings of one-run ball in a 2-1 win over the Angels. Since he was on Boston’s active roster, though, Faria ensured that he would get a prorated version of the major-league minimum as far as his salary is concerned.

With that being said, Faria’s stay in Boston lasted all of one day. As previously mentioned, he was designated for assignment on Monday to open a roster spot for Bello and was outrighted off the 40-man roster on Wednesday after clearing waivers.

Faria, who turns 30 in July, will now look to continue stringing together strong outings for Worcester in hopes of ultimately making it back to a big-league mound — whether it be with the Red Sox or elsewhere — for the first time since August 14, 2021.

(Picture of Jake Faria: Elsa/Getty Images)

Red Sox minor-league reliever Michael Gettys to undergo back surgery

Red Sox minor-league reliever Michael Gettys took to Instagram on Thursday to announce that he is going to have surgery to repair a herniated disc in his lower back.

“If you know me, for the past six years I’ve made comments or complained about my lower back always being tight (jokingly sometimes),” Gettys wrote. “Since the middle of 2016 I have been playing and living with a herniated disc in my lower back. Only few people know how bad it really bothered me. I’ve had extreme muscle spasms, referred pain into my hip and groin, and extreme nerve pain radiating from my low back down my leg (sciatica). I haven’t been able to tie my shoes properly, bend over or sit for long periods of time without nerve pain. I’ve pushed and pushed. Now is the time to get it fixed as it has affected my quality of life and career.

“Only a handful of times in the past few years have I really felt like myself physically,” he continued. “I will be getting surgery to remove the herniation that is constantly on my nerve. I am at peace with it because I know I will be pain-free in my daily life and my playing career. I’ve always been a man of faith, I give God control of it all. I have always been resilient and I’ve never quit anything. I plan to come back better than ever in my personal life and playing career!”

Gettys first joined the Red Sox organization as a minor-league free agent in November 2020. At that point in time, the 27-year-old was an outfielder and former second-round draft selection of the Padres in 2014 who spent the first six years of his professional career in San Diego’s farm system.

A right-handed hitter, Gettys opened the 2021 minor-league season with Triple-A Worcester and saw playing time at all three outfield positions for the WooSox before being placed on the development in early August. Later that same month, Gettys had successfully been converted into a pitcher and was working as a reliever with the rookie-level Florida Complex League Red Sox down in Fort Myers.

Boston first re-signed Gettys to a minor-league deal that November. Between High-A Greenville and Double-A Portland last season, the righty pitched to a 2.23 ERA and 4.21 FIP with 31 strikeouts to 15 walks over 40 relief appearances spanning 48 1/3 innings of work. As a member of the Sea Dogs bullpen, he forged an ERA of 0.48 (4.00 FIP) with eight strikeouts to eight walks across 18 outings and 18 2/3 innings.

Gettys was expected to return to Portland for the start of the 2023 campaign after re-signing with the Red Sox last November, but he was placed on the 7-day injured list earlier this month because of back issues. Those back issues have now progressed to the point where the 6-foot-1, 217-pound hurler will go under the knife in hopes of getting them resolved.

With that, it seems unlikely that Gettys — who turns 28 in October — will be able to pitch this season, though his timetable has not yet been determined. Taking that into consideration, it is worth mentioning that the Georgia native can once again become eligible for minor-league free agency at the end of the year.

(Picture of Michael Gettys: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox reliever Zack Kelly to undergo elbow surgery

Red Sox reliever Zack Kelly will require elbow surgery, manager Alex Cora announced to reporters (including MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo) prior to Wednesday’s 10-4 loss to the Twins at Fenway Park.

Kelly will undergo an “ulnar nerve transposition revision” on a date that is still to be determined, according to the team. The right-hander’s UCL (ulnar collateral ligament) and internal brace are still intact.

After injuring his right elbow in last Wednesday’s loss to the Rays at Tropicana Field, Kelly underwent further imaging in Boston on Friday. The 28-year-old’s MRI came back clean, but the Red Sox still sent the results to the physician who performed his internal bracing procedure in May 2020 in order to get a second opinion.

Additionally, Kelly visited an orthopedic surgeon in Alabama in recent days. The result of that visit was the “best case scenario,” per Cotillo.

“The ulnar nerve wasn’t damaged but it’s not attached to whatever it has to be,” Cora said of Kelly. “He’s going to have surgery. We have to wait on when. As far as surgeries, the doctor is backtracked with all that stuff so we have to wait. But he’ll be out for a while.”

Because he underwent an internal bracing procedure on his right elbow in lieu of Tommy John surgery nearly three years ago, Kelly has dealt with this sort of issue before. He was with the Angels at that time and would have missed the entirety of the 2020 minor-league season had it not been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Kelly was released by Los Angeles shortly thereafter and joined the Red Sox as a minor-league free agent that December.

At this point in time, it is not yet known if Kelly will be able to pitch again this season. The righty currently owns a 3.68 ERA with six strikeouts to six walks in his first six relief appearances (7 1/3 innings) of the season after making his first-ever Opening Day roster last month. He was transferred from the 15-day to the 60-day injured list this past Sunday.

When he left last Wednesday’s game, Kelly was visibly upset and had tears in his eyes. At that moment, his previous elbow injury and unique journey from going undrafted out of Division II Newberry College to the major-leagues were both on his mind.

“I was definitely emotional for two reasons,” said Kelly. “One, because I care. I care about this game, these guys and I enjoy doing this. Two, just all the shit I went through to get here. It’s just a lot. Whenever something like that happens, you get emotional about it.”

(Picture of Zack Kelly: Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox place Chris Martin on 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation, transfer Wyatt Mills to 60-day injured list

Before taking on the Angels at Fenway Park on Sunday afternoon, the Red Sox placed veteran reliever Chris Martin on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation.

To take Martin’s place on the big-league roster, Jake Faria had his contract selected from Triple-A Worcester. In order to make room for Faria on the 40-man roster, fellow right-hander Wyatt Mills was transferred from the 15-day to the 60-day injured list.

Martin, who last pitched against the Rays this past Wednesday, underwent an MRI after reporting arm discomfort earlier in the week. The MRI revealed only inflammation as opposed to any structural damage. Because of that diagnosis, the Red Sox are optimistic that the 36-year-old’s stint on the injured list (which was backdated to April 13) will last the minimum 15 days.

“He’s a little bit banged up. It started with the bicep, now the shoulder,” manager Alex Cora said of Martin when speaking with reporters (including MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo). “So we have to stay away from him. Actually, he’s getting checked by the doctor. There’s a good chance he’ll go on the IL. It’s nothing serious, serious. But it’s something we have to take into consideration. So we were talking about it and we’ll see what we do.”

Martin, for his part, told The Boston Globe’s Pete Abraham: “It’s something I’ve had before early in the season. It’s just inflammation, nothing structural. We can knock it out.”

Boston signed Martin to a two-year, $17.5 million deal back in December to serve as a setup man in the back of the bullpen. The righty has allowed just two runs through his first seven appearances (seven innings) of the season, but he has struggled to miss bats and has a 5.08 FIP to show for it.

Faria signed a minor-league pact with the Red Sox back in February and broke camp with Worcester last month. In three relief appearances for the WooSox thus far, the 29-year-old has yielded six earned runs on four hits, six walks, and five strikeouts over five innings of work.

The Red Sox did not need Faria to defeat the Angels on Sunday, as Garrett Whitlock, Kaleb Ort, and Ryan Brasier combined for nine innings of one-run ball in the 2-1 win. Considering that the club will need to make a corresponding move in order to activate Brayan Bello from the injured list for his start on Monday, it seems likely that Faria could be designated for assignment since he is out of minor-league options and is a candidate to go through waivers unclaimed.

Mills, meanwhile, was acquired from the Royals in exchange for relief prospect Jacob Wallace back in December. The 28-year-old began his first season in Boston on the 15-day injured list after being shut down with elbow discomfort at the end of spring training. Though he has resumed throwing, Mills will not be eligible to be activated (and pitch in the majors) until late May at the earliest.

Following Sunday’s series of roster moves, the Red Sox now have four players on the 60-day injured list in Mills, Zack Kelly, Adalberto Mondesi, and Trevor Story.

(Picture of Chris Martin: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox claim lefty reliever Brennan Bernardino off waivers from Mariners, transfer Zack Kelly to 60-day injured list

The Red Sox have claimed left-hander Brennan Bernardino off waivers from the Mariners, the club announced earlier Sunday afternoon. In order to make room for Bernardino on the 40-man roster, right-hander Zack Kelly was transferred from the 15-day to the 60-day injured list.

Bernardino, 31, was designated for assignment by Seattle last Wednesday and has since been optioned to Triple-A Worcester. The lefty made his major-league debut for the Mariners last July and made just two appearances for the club, allowing three runs (one earned) on three hits, two walks, and zero strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings of relief.

A native of California, Bernardino was originally selected by the Reds in the 26th round of the 2014 amateur draft out of Cal State Dominguez Hills. After four years in the Reds organization, Bernardino was released by Cincinnati in July 2018. He then latched on with the Guardians the following February, but was cut loose again shortly thereafter so he could pursue an opportunity in the Mexican League.

After spending parts of three seasons in Mexico, Bernardino returned to affiliated ball when his contract was purchased by the Mariners last June. He made 23 relief appearances for Seattle’s Triple-A affiliate in Tacoma last season and posted a 2.20 ERA with 35 strikeouts to 10 walks over 32 2/3 innings of work.

To begin the 2023 campaign, Bernardino surrendered 11 runs (eight earned) on 13 hits, one walk, and 11 strikeout in his first two outings (six innings) for the Rainiers before losing his spot on Seattle’s 40-man roster last week.

Listed at 6-foot-4 and 180 pounds, Bernardino operates with a two-pitch mix that consists of a low-90s sinker and a high-70s curveball. The southpaw should provide the Red Sox with some optionable, left-handed bullpen depth. As things stand now, Richard Bleier is the only lefty reliever on Boston’s big-league roster while Joely Rodriguez (right oblique strain) remains on the injured list.

Kelly, meanwhile, was initially placed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation on April 13. That came one day after the 28-year-old injured his right elbow in the fifth inning of last Wednesday’s loss to the Rays in St. Petersburg.

Though Kelly was visibly upset as he was taken out of the game, an MRI on Friday apparently revealed no structural damage to his right UCL (ulnar collateral ligament). Because Kelly had an internal bracing procedure on his right elbow in May 2020, though, the Red Sox have sent the results of Friday’s MRI to the physician who performed the surgery for a second opinion.

Regardless of the outcome there, Sunday’s decision means Kelly will not be eligible to be activated until mid-June at the earliest. Kelly becomes the latest player to be placed on Boston’s 60-day injured list, joining fellow reliever Wyattt Mills and infielders Adalberto Mondesi and Trevor Story.

(Picture of Brennan Bernardino: Steph Chambers/Getty Images)