Could Red Sox reliever Dan Altavilla be a viable bullpen option for 2023?
Back in March, the Red Sox signed right-handed reliever Dan Altavilla to a two-year, minor-league deal. Altavilla missed the entire 2022 season recovering from Tommy John surgery.
As the Red Sox construct their 2023 roster, Altavilla could be a low risk, high reward option if healthy.
Listed at 5-foot-11 and 226 pounds, Altavilla offers a two pitch mix, a fastball and a slider. His fastball averaged 97.3 mph back in 2020, his last healthy season. It remains to be seen want his fastball will look like following Tommy John surgery.
The right-handed hurler has a respectable 26.1% strikeout rate over his career, but a 12.1% walk rate and 12.4% home run rate. Control has been an issue in the past for Altavilla.
His hard slider averages 87-91 mph with 12-to-6 movement. Uses the pitch about 50% of the time with his fastball during his career.
According to Baseball Savant, Atlavilla compares to former Red Sox reliever Hansel Robles, Sergio Romo or Josh Fields.
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The 30-year-old reliever was initially taken in the fifth round out of Mercyhurst University (Erie, Pa.) by the Seattle Mariners in the 2014 MLB Draft.
The six-year veteran has pitched in 119 big league games. Over that span, he is 8-7 with a 4.03 ERA, one save, 129 strikeouts and a 1.319 WHIP.
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As of now, the Red Sox 2023 bullpen should feature Matt Barnes, Tanner Houck, Zack Kelly, John Schreiber with other options like Ryan Brasier, Franklin German and Kaleb Ort.
Boston will surely add arms in free agency or via trade this winter. Altavilla provides an intriguing hard throwing option for manager Alex Cora if he’s healthy in 2023.
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