The Boston Red Sox have shown some real promise following a four-game sweep over the Toronto Blue Jays, which vaulted the team out of the basement of the American League East and into third place.
While the team appears to be buzzing on all cylinders, there are still some concerns regarding the pitching staff.
Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom reportedly addressed the concern regarding the back of the bullpen Friday afternoon.
“(Texas) Rangers Minor League trade: right-handed pitcher Zack Littell is being sent to Boston for cash considerations,” MLB.com’s Kennedi Landry tweeted.”
Littell is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA, an impressive 16-to-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .196 batting average against and 0.92 WHIP in 12 innings for Triple-A Round Rock this season.
Interestingly, the 27-year-old had strong seasons in 2019 and 2021 but struggled in 2018, 2020 and 2022.
Overall, the right-hander has a 4.08 ERA with a 151-to-60 strikeout-to-walk ratio and .257 batting average against in 160 2/3 career innings at the big league level.
Littell appears set on bouncing between good and bad every other year, as he looks as good as ever this season.
The newly-acquired hurler features a 94-95 mph fastball, an effective slider and the occasional splitter.
Littell likely will start at Triple-A Worcester but could factor into the mix soon as both Kaleb Ort and Ryan Brasier occupy spots on the Red Sox’s roster.
Newly acquired southpaw Brennan Bernardino appears to already have jumped those two on the depth chart with seven scoreless innings to begin the year, it would not take much for Littell to do the same.
Littell is not expected to become a reliable high-leverage arm for Boston but depth has already been tested this season and it was clear that the Red Sox needed to make some changes.
The acquisition of Littell is a step in the right direction as the club attempts to improve the pitching staff.
