Zach Penrod talks 'adjustment period' to bullpen; 'Would be phenomenal' to be potential MLB option
The Red Sox are running into a bit of a bullpen problem lately.
They currently have quite a few guys that could use some time off to reboot from the number of innings that have been asked out of them over the previous couple of weeks. That is where your Triple-A depth comes into play.
The WooSox currently have three pitchers on the roster who are members of the 40-man roster in Quinn Priester, Greg Weissert, and Isaiah Campbell. Priester is in the starting rotation and Weissert has been very good since he was sent down. Campbell is currently on the IL and not an option for Boston.
Outside of Weissert, who do you turn to?
WooSox pitcher Zach Penrod has heard his name floating around a bit after a recent move to the bullpen. That is something he has not done in quite some time but noted it was easier due to not being built back up to starting since his IL stint.
“It was a pretty easy transition just because I wasn’t built back up fully as a starter yet since the injury,” Penrod said. “It was a little bit of a change because I wanted to go five innings a few times back, but I went two innings and threw later in the week. It is an interesting transition, but I am here for it. They told me to go out there and throw hard and I can do that.”
In Triple-A, pitchers have to stay versatile to get a shot at the majors. We have seen this in previous years with guys like Josh Winckowski, Tanner Houck, and Nick Pivetta. All three have started and relieved games over the last two seasons in efforts to get to the big leagues and stick around. It has obviously worked out for all three guys.
Penrod seems to be next in line for that chance. After being a traditional starter since joining the Red Sox organization, the plan is to move him to the bullpen for the rest of the 2024 season to give the MLB team left-handed reliever depth then jump back to starting in 2025.
“A lot of it is just finding ways to make your arm feel good before the game and take care of it between innings,” Penrod said of what the biggest difference has been. “Right now, I have an idea of when I am throwing but when the situation changes, I am going to have find a good routine to fall into. You aren’t going out throwing every five anymore, so I have to break up the routine that I did have and find a new one. That is what this adjustment period is for right now. I need to figure out how I can make my arm the best it can be for those outings and when I let lose, let it ride from there.”
With Chase Shugart and Mickey Gasper getting called up as non-roster guys, Penrod has taken notice of what could be in store for himself and knows it is the biggest difference between being in Portland and Worcester.
“I see guys moving in and out here in Worcester,” added Penrod. “That is something that is a huge difference between Triple-A and Double-A. You do get used to seeing it and it is always fun to show up to the locker room and see who is moving in or out. To see Gasper go up was up. I played with him with Portland too and he is a great baseball player and person. It was so cool to see him get in the game. As far as a potential move for myself, I don’t really pay attention to the noise to be honest.”
