Red Sox to promote hard-throwing southpaw from Triple-A Worcester
The Red Sox will recall left-handed reliever Cam Booser, and he will meet the team in Pittsburgh, per MLB.com’sIan Browne.
Boston will need to make a move to open a 40-man roster spot. It’s likely shortstop Trevor Story will be transferred to the 60-day IL to make room for Booser.
Left-hander Joe Jacques has been optioned to Triple-A Worcester, according to Beyond the Monster’s Andrew Parker. Jacques pitched on Thursday against the Guardians. The lefty allowed one run in 1 2/3 innings as the Red Sox lost 5-4, losing three of four games in the process.
Booser has been lights out for the WooSox to begin the season. He has allowed just three hits and one walk while striking out 15 batters in 6 2/3 innings of work.
He last pitched on Tuesday at Polar Park against the Durham Bulls and struck out five in two scoreless and hitless frames.
Booser spent all of last season with the WooSox, pitching in 48 games; he had one save, four holds with 66 strikeouts to 24 walks, and gave up 11 homers.
The month of April last year didn’t treat the lefty well; opponents tore the cover off the ball when he pitched, batting .354 against Booser. He posted a 9.58 ERA and gave up 17 hits, 11 earned runs, three homers, walked four, and struck out 12 over 10 1/3 innings. The following month, opponents continued to hammer Booser, posting a 7.88 ERA while giving up 10 runs, seven of them earned.
Booser settled down in June, pitching to a 2.89 ERA, and owned an even 2.00 ERA in July. Down the stretch, to close out the WooSox season, he would become a trusted reliever out of Chad Tracy’s bullpen.
Overall, he recorded a 4.99 ERA in 48 appearances but pitched to a 3.30 ERA from July on.
While in spring training, Red Sox skipper Alex Cora praised Booser for how well he was pitching.
“He’s been great, man,” Cora said during the spring. “He throws 97, 98. Sometimes he hits 99. And he’s been able to land the off-speed pitches for strikes. He’s been really good. He had a great second half last year. Talking to (Worcester Red Sox manager) Chad Tracy, something clicked there that got him in the strike zone. And he’s been doing the same thing here in spring training.”
