Jul 29, 2022; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer (30) is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a home run against the Minnesota Twins during the fourth inning at Petco Park. (Orlando Ramirez/USA TODAY Sports)
The biggest of the five moves made post-JBJ release was the activation of Eric Hosmer to the roster.
Hosmer, acquired from the Padres on Tuesday, comes to the Red Sox in the midst of a 2022 campaign that’s featured a .272 average, eight home runs, 16 doubles, and 40 RBIs in 90 games with San Diego.
The 32-year-old Hosmer, who admitted that he did have contract talks with the Red Sox prior to signing with San Diego back in 2018, will immediately step in as Boston’s everyday first baseman. Hosmer will indeed make his Red Sox debut Thursday, too, and will hit sixth in the lineup.
In an ironic twist, Hosmer’s Sox debut will come against the Royals, with whom Hosmer spent the first seven years of his MLB career. In Kansas City, Hosmer emerged as one of the franchise’s all-time greats, with four Gold Gloves, a Silver Slugger in 2017, and a World Series championship in 2015.
Apr 13, 2022; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Matt Barnes (32) pitches during the sixth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. (Raj Mehta/USA TODAY Sports)
The team also announced the activation of Matt Barnes from the 60-day injured list.
The 32-year-old Barnes, who was shut down with right shoulder inflammation back in June, has not appeared in a game for the Red Sox since surrendering three run in a May 30 appearance against Baltimore. It’s been a season to forget for Barnes, really, with three losses and a 7.94 ERA in 17 innings of work this season.
Barnes’ return to the MLB roster comes after eight minor-league rehab appearances in July.
In the minors, Barnes posted a 2-0 record, 8.22 ERA, and struck out 11 batters in 7.2 innings of work.
Jul 17, 2022; Bronx, New York, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Darwinzon Hernandez (63) delivers a pitch against the New York Yankees during the third inning at Yankee Stadium. (Gregory Fisher/USA TODAY Sports)
The team also announced the recall of lefty Darwinzon Hernandez from Triple-A Worcester.
Hernandez has undoubtedly struggled in his limited MLB showings this season, with five earned runs and seven hits allowed through 3.2 innings of work in 2022. Hernandez did have a solid July for Worcester, however, with eight strikeouts and just two hits allowed in 4.1 innings of work over five appearances.
Jul 24, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Brayan Bello (66) pitches during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. (Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports)
To make room on the roster, the Red Sox announced that top pitching prospect Brayan Bello has been placed on the 15-day injured list with a right groin strain.
Bello was injured in Wednesday’s loss to the Astros after surrendering two hits and recording two strikeouts.
The 23-year-old Bello is 0-3 with an 8.47 ERA and 15 strikeouts in five MLB appearances this season.
Aug 3, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Kaleb Ort (61) pitches against the Houston Astros in seventh inning at Minute Maid Park. (Thomas Shea/USA TODAY Sports)
Still one player over the limit, the Red Sox also announced the optioning of Kaleb Ort to Triple-A Worcester.
The 6-foot-4 righty has made 10 appearances with the Red Sox this season, and it hasn’t been pretty. Actually, it’s been straight-up ugly. Batters have hit over .350 against Ort in 2022, while Ort has been hammered for 19 hits and 13 earned runs in 12.1 innings of work.
