Marcus Walden joins Bobby Poyner as surprise additions to Red Sox roster

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Every spring, it seems, a nice story comes out of nowhere.

On Monday, that manifest itself in the person of the previously unheralded Marcus Walden.

In a surprise move, the Red Sox optioned Brandon Workman to Pawtucket Monday and instead tabbed Walden, a true journeyman, to the roster. Walden will pitch out of the bullpen and be able to give the Red Sox some length, something the club thought was important in the early going with starters not sufficiently extended.

Walden, 29, has been in pro ball since 2007 and is now with his fifth organization -- not counting a stint in independent ball as recently as 2015 -- and has never been in the big leagues.

"It's a great honor, obviously to part of the Boston Red Sox,'' said Walden, "but it's definitely a dream come true after playing in minors for quite a long time. I'm happy to be a part of it and I can't wait until Thursday.''

Walden will join rookie lefty Bobby Poyner as two surprise additions to the Red Sox' Opening Day roster that no one could have seen coming when spring training began almost six weeks ago.

"They won it,'' said Alex Cora of the two. "They pitched well. They did an outstanding job throughout spring training. You talk about spring training stats and you get caught up, but it's not about the numbers. You see the stuff, the way they went after the hitters, the weapons, the pitches they can use. We feel like they can help us out right now.''

Cora recalled watching Walden's first live BP and took note.

"He was impressive,' said Cora. "The ball was moving. He pitched winter ball, so he was probably ahead of other guys. But he maintained his stuff throughout camp - actually it's getting better. Velocity-wise, movement-wise, slider usage, repeating his delivery...He can give you a tough matchup against a righty and he can get lefties. He can give you length. He was a guy we didn't overlook. He was impressive right away. He kept doing good things, so he deserves it.''

Cora took particular pleasure in breaking the good news to Walden.

"For how tough today was, telling some guys they didn't make the team, telling somebody, 'You're a big leaguer,' and seeing his reaction, that was cool to hear,'' Cora said. "You go to Baseball-Reference.com, he signed in 2007. He's gone through the whole journey. He's 29 and probably at one point he doubted if this day was going to come. The first thing (I said) was, 'You know what? I'm not going to beat around (the bush); I'm just going to tell you, you're a big leaguer.' His reaction was outstanding.''

Poyner, a 14th-round draft pick, has never pitched above Double A, but emerged from a group of more experienced lefty bullpen candidates.

"I just love the fact that he has different ways of getting people out and he can get righties out,'' said Cora. "He's not a -- what do they call it? A LOOGY (A lefty one-out Guy)? He's a good lefty and we're going to put him in spots where he can people out. We're going to talk to him about usage, certain pitches in certain situations. We feel that changeup can play and he can use that to lefties and righties.''

Meanwhile, Workman compiled a Grapefruit League ERA of 5.59 and pitched himself off the roster.

"It was more about command,'' said Cora. "His velocity was down, but it was more about command. It wasn't there.''

But Cora wasn't about write off Workman.

"I know Work has been here a while,'' said Cora, "and he'll be part of this. It takes more than 25 guys to win a World Series. It takes more than 40 and you add guys you never expect to be part this. His situation was like that in 2013 (when he was a spring training invitee and was part of the bullpen in the World Series). Obviously, he's disappointed, but he'll be alright. He'll go to Pawtucket and he'll compete. At some point, we're going to need him and he's going to get outs at the big league level.''