John Schreiber has become a star in the Red Sox bullpen
In a season full of disappointment for the Red Sox, John Schreiber has shined
Red Sox's John Schreiber reacts after a 9-4 win against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Tuesday. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Expectations were not high for John Schreiber Coming into the 2022 regular season. Through his first three seasons in the majors, the former 15th-round pick had posted an ERA lower than 6.00 once in limited action. However, in a season where a lot has gone wrong for the Red Sox, Scheiber has been one of the few bright spots.
With the season nearly in the books, Schreiber has posted a 2.01 ERA in 57 games. He has arguably been the Red Sox’s best bullpen arm and held opponents to a career-low .184 batting average. Due to his performance, he has been used in high-leverage situations and has seen his fair share of save opportunities. In those situations, he has converted seven of his ten chances.
Additionally, Schreiber has seen his strikeout numbers rise. Through 58.1 innings of work, he has stuck out 66 batters. Entering the 2022 campaign, his career high in a season was 19. While that is partly due to a significant workload increase, his control has improved, and Schreiber is missing more bats.
Although the Red Sox bullpen has dealt with injuries and inconsistency, the Northwestern Ohio College product has become a trusted option for Alex Cora. He leads the team in holds with 20 and is second in saves. He has also been able to battle adversity which has been on display in September.
After posting a 3.95 ERA in August, the 28-year-old has not allowed an earned run this month. He has only allowed three hits in six appearances and has not surrendered a home run since July 17th. The veteran reliever has continued to be efficient every time he takes the mound and limited baserunners.
Furthermore, the Michigan native has brought a unique energy to the Red Sox pitching staff. He is not afraid of showing his emotions when he makes a big out which has partially made him a fan favorite. In the Boston market, one of the most demanding in baseball, Schreiber has fit in perfectly.
With less than a month left in the 2022 season, the priority for the Red Sox will be getting a look at who can contribute next season. Schreiber has already solidified a spot and proven that he can excel regardless of the situation. For a player that had 29 career appearances before opening day, the 2022 season has been one Schreiber will never forget.
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