WooSox to continue using right-hander Justin Hagenman out of rotation
The WooSox summoned reliever Justin Hagenman from the bullpen to start on Sunday in the series finale against the Toledo Mud Hens.
It was Hagenman’s first start for Worcester since joining the Red Sox organization last summer after he was acquired in the three-player deal that sent Kiké Hernández to the Dodgers.
The right-hander tossed 2 1/3 innings, giving up two runs off three hits with three walks while striking out two batters.
Hagenman was thrust into the rotation following Naoyuki Uwasawa's addition to the Red Sox 26-man roster. Worcester is running low on potential starting pitching options despite recently adding Sal Romano and Vladimir Gutierrez in the last couple of weeks. Both pitchers are options to start, but the club will continue to look at current options on their roster to stretch out.
WooSox Chad Tracy told reporters pregame on Tuesday that Hagenman will remain in the rotation and make another start this week.
“He’s a guy we targeted in spring training as someone we could stretch out and do this with,” said Tracy.
The discussions to move Hagenman into the rotation have come up in the past. Towards the end of the Triple-A season, there were conversations internally about having Hagenman start for the WooSox. WooSox skipper Chad Tracy extended his innings in a game against Gwinnett in September and a few more times before the regular season came to a close.
“When we acquired him, the interest level was being in a bulk bullpen role,” Tracy said of Hagenman at the end of last season. “It is more like a multiple-inning reliever somewhere in the middle part of the game to carry it to the back end, and we have used him primarily that way.”
When Hagenman was acquired by the Red Sox, the club immediately told him the organization's focus was on him while in Worcester.
“After I had gotten there, they (Red Sox) said we're going to stretch out into multiple innings,” said Hagenman while on the To the Show We Go podcast in November. “I did have more of a defined role than it wasn't just blind; you know, you're just going to start throwing three innings.
“They told me that I was going to relieve, and then, I think, to get my feet wet a little bit, I think I threw one inning the first couple times. And then, from there on out, it was pretty much multi-inning appearances. So yeah, I knew what I was; I knew the role,” added Hagenman.
This season, Hagenman has pitched in six games and owns a 1-1 record with 14 strikeouts and a 5.40 ERA over 13 1/3 innings.
The New Jersey native does not turn 28 until October, throws from a low three-quarters arm slot, and offers a four-pitch mix on the mound. He offers a 92-94 mph fastball with arm-side run, a low-80s whiff-inducing slider, a mid-80s changeup, and an occasional cutter, according to his SoxProspects scouting report.
Hagenman as “Triple-A depth who has the potential to eat some innings as an emergency up-and-down pitcher at the MLB level. Swing-man type.”
