Red Sox add intriguing arm in Helcris Olivarez
On Thursday afternoon, the Red Sox added an intriguing pitcher to the mix in Helcris Olivarez on a minor league deal. The 23-year-old was a former top prospect with the Rockies before shoulder injuries derailed his career.
In 68 games in the Rockies system, Olivarez posted a 4.32 ERA while pitching out of the bullpen and rotation. Although the Dominican native has struggled to limit home runs, he has held opponents to a .225 batting average. Regardless of the level, he has been a strikeout machine.
Through 250 innings of work in the minors, Olivarez has struck out 290 batters. His best season came in 2021 when he recorded 112 punchouts in High-A. That was also one of the only two seasons in which Olivarez has made more than 15 appearances.
When spring training rolls around, Olivarez will be a player to watch. Although he has battled injuries, the talented lefty has shown flashes of promise. He finished each of his first three professional seasons with an ERA under 4, and in that span, he allowed only ten home runs.
However, the last two years have been a different story. Olivarez appeared in one game during the 2022 campaign and missed all of 2023 with shoulder issues. If the Red Sox can get him back to his form from a few years ago, he could be an interesting depth piece. Prior to his health issues, Olivarez could throw 100 miles per hour.
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