Pitching prospect involved in the Andrew Benintendi trade promoted to the WooSox
The Red Sox are expected to promote right-handed pitching prospect Grant Gambrell to the WooSox, per source. This will be the second time that Gambrell has been promoted this season.
The 25-year-old is enjoying a solid season posting an 8-5 record with a 3.81 ERA with 120 strikeouts, 1.27 in 115 2/3 innings (21 starts) between Low-A Salem and Double-A Portland.
Boston acquired Gambrell prior to the 2021 season in the three-team deal that send outfielder Andrew Benintendi to the Royals. The Red Sox acquired Franchy Cordero, Freddy Valdez, Josh Winckowski, Luis De La Rosa in the trade. Both Cordero and Valdez are no longer in the organization.
Gambrell features a four pitch mix, fastball, curveball and changeup and cutter. The righty used to throw a four-seam fastball but has since eliminated that pitch from his repertoire.
“It’s just a better pitch for me,” Gambrell said to MassLive’s Christopher Smith on eliminating his four-seam fastball. “Looking at numbers and swings, I feel like I was getting worse swings on my sinker.”
The Red Sox added his cutter to his arsenal during spring training.
“We were looking at some video and where my hand placement is at release point,” he said. “Found I was a seam-shifted guy. So the cutter is a good pitch for me and it’s been pretty good ever since I started throwing it.”
The Royals initially selected Gambrel in the third round (80th overall) during the 2019 MLB draft out of Oregon State.
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