Red Sox Notes: Alex Bregman and Trevor Story with a monster game, roster cuts including ‘The Password’ to minor league camp, Whitlock returns to the mound
While the Bruins pulled off multiple trades on Friday afternoon, the Red Sox pummeled the Marlins 20-5 at JetBlue Park.
Alex Bregman and Trevor Story showed off their power at the plate, putting on a show for fans at Fenway South.
Bregman reached base four times with two hits, a homer, a hit-by-pitch, a walk, and a stolen base, with two runs scored. Story belted two homers as part of a three-hit day with three runs scored.
In total, the Red Sox left side of their infield on Opening Day tallied five hits, five runs scored, and five runs driven in with three total homers. Boston will rely on veteran leaders to set the scene for what should be a crucial season with playoff aspirations.
Bregman looks to be the Red Sox' third baseman as Rafael Devers slowly works his way into spring games. The former Astro could slide to second base once Devers is a full go and returns to game action.
Boston announced their first round of spring roster cuts on Friday, optioning right-handed pitcher Luis Perales and outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia to minor league camp.
The Red Sox also reassigned pitchers Jovani Morán, Robert Stock, Brian Van Belle, and Jacob Belle to minor league camp.
Perales, one of the Red Sox' top pitching prospects, is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. The 21-year-old hurler had a 2.94 ERA in nine starts between High-A Greenville and Double-A Portland before getting hurt last year.
Garcia, who is in his first camp with Boston, was added to their 40-man roster this offseason and is expected to begin the 2025 season with the Portland Sea Dogs.
The 22-year-old soared through the Sox’ system last year, batting .286 with a .356 on-base percentage, a .536 slugging percentage, .892 OPS, with 23 homers, 24 doubles, five triples, 66 RBI, and 17 stolen bases in 107 games.
Morán was acquired by the Red Sox from the Twins on Christmas Eve for catcher/infielder Mickey Gasper. The southpaw is coming off Tommy John surgery that he underwent in November 2023. He recorded a 2.21 ERA in 40 ⅔ innings out of Minnesota’s bullpen in 2022 as a rookie.
Garrett Whitlock threw one inning of relief against the Marlins in the Red Sox' 20-5 win on Friday afternoon.
The 28-year-old pitched in a game for the first time since April 16. He has been rehabbing back from the season-ending elbow surgery he underwent on May 30.
Whitlock threw 12 of 18 pitches for strikes and allowed one unearned run thanks to his own error.
“Felt good to finally be back in a game,” Whitlock said. “I had to slow myself down a little bit.”
The righty told reporters following his outing that his fastball had good life on it and felt he threw an effective changeup.
Whitlock will be a key member of the Red Sox bullpen this coming season now that he has fully transitioned from being a starter. As a reliever, Whitlock has a career record of 18-11 over 241 2/3 innings while posting a 3.39 ERA with 252 strikeouts.
“Let’s go back to the bullpen, baby,” said Whitlock to reporters at Fenway Fest in January.
Whitlock can give the Red Sox versatility out of the bullpen; he can pitch in a multi-innings role or in a high-leverage spot at the back end, setting up whoever will be the closer.
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A full interview with Portland Sea Dogs hitting coach Johnny Reina on what bats in the Red Sox system he is helping get to the bigs, along with what drove him to the Red Sox organization.