WooSox closer AJ Politi strikes out two with impressive breaking ball in win over Northeastern
The Red Sox opened up the 2024 year with a 7-2 win in their exhibition matchup against Northeastern. While none of the stats will count for this one, it was still a positive showing from several members of the upper minors in the system.
The WooSox saw a few different arms collect saves in Worcester last season, but AJ Politi was the guy who led the team in saves after he closed out 15 games. The right-hander was selected in the 2023 MLB Rule 5 Draft by the Baltimore Orioles but was returned right as the season got underway last season.
Politi received a NRI to spring training in 2024 and pitched on Friday and put up a clean second inning against the Huskies. He capped off his clean inning with two timely strikeouts with two breaking balls that were called third strikes.
The numbers for the 2023 season don’t really paint the accurate picture as his stats were inflated due to a few bad outings. The only number worth mentioning would be the K/9, as it dipped below 10 for the first time in his professional career. He did struggle at times to miss bats as he had his highest WHIP since 2021 in Portland.
WooSox manager Chad Tracy was consistent with the trust he had in the New Jersey native as he had picked up multiple saves each month of the season. A solid showing this spring and with a hot start in Worcester to start 2024, Politi could very well find himself in contention of a major league bullpen spot.
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