Red Sox Notes: Luis Guerrero debuting new pitch, Hendriks optimistic about injury, Winckowski's role

Flame-throwing pitching prospect Luis Guerrero worked this spring to make the Opening Day roster, attempting to earn a spot in the Red Sox bullpen.

Guerrero appeared to be in good shape at the start of the spring, as he breezed through his appearances, striking out six in three scoreless frames while allowing only one hit and one walk.

Then control became an issue, and the wheels came off quickly for the hard-throwing righty. He walked eight batters while giving up six runs over his final four Grapefruit League outings (2 2/3 innings). Boston optioned him to Triple-A Worcester on March 19.

“Feel it was a good spring training,” Guerrero said on Friday ahead of the WooSox’ home opener. “Kind of part of the process knowing there’s going to be bumps on the road. Trying out a new pitch. So I'm trying to get comfortable with that."

Guerrero didn’t get upset or take his demotion personally; he’s motivated to get back to the big leagues. The 24-year-old was promoted to the bigs in September and recorded nine strikeouts to two walks, allowing one run over 10 innings (nine games).

“It’s part of the process,” Guerrero said. “At the end of the day, they make the decisions. It’s just something that’s out of my control. Keep working is something I’m going to take advantage of down here. Do the necessary adjustments to get back to the big leagues.”

This was Guerrero’s second big league camp but his first where he was competing for a spot in the Red Sox Opening Day bullpen. While in camp, he added a cutter to his pitching arsenal to help complement his four-seam fastball and changeup. Like most Red Sox pitchers, he also throws a sweeper.

“Something to throw lefties, kind of throw them off the changeup,” Guerrero said through translator/defensive coach Iggy Suarez.

Cora noted in camp that young players sometimes let their nerves get in the way of them making an Opening Day roster.

“That comes into play, too,” Cora said. “Sometimes they try to do too much. And our job as an organization is kind of like, ‘Slow it down. You will be fine.‘”

Guerrero knows he will get another opportunity in Boston. He just needs to control what he can control to help get him there.

“But it’s all part of the process — just trying to stay as grounded as you can to be able to (stay) present ... to get through that."

FULMER STARTING IN THE WOOSOX ROTATION

The Red Sox will use veteran right-handed pitcher Michael Fulmer in the WooSox starting rotation. He will make his first start of the season on Sunday in the series finale against the Syracuse Mets at Polar Park.

“As of right now, we plan on him being a starter,” Abraham said.

WooSox lefty Shane Drohan will piggyback off Fulmer following his start on Sunday afternoon.

Fulmer signed a two-year, minor league deal with the Red Sox before last spring training. He missed the entire season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. The righty spent the entire year down in Fort Myers for his rehab.

He pitched 11.1 innings this spring; the former first-round pick posted a 0.79 ERA and struck out 12 batters. He has held opponents to a .233 batting average and only allowed one earned run.

Since making his MLB debut, the Oklahoma native has appeared in 262 games. During that period, Fulmer not only made 90 starts but also saw action out of the bullpen. Fulmer’s experience as a starter and a reliever makes him an intriguing option for the Red Sox if they need someone at the big league level over the course of the season.

Drohan's fastball velocity, topping out at 97 mph, caught the attention of the organization's pitching evaluators. The lefty looked impressive both physically and on the mound with the Red Sox during the spring, pitching in two games, making one start, striking out five, and walking one over six innings.

The southpaw has garnered the attention of the WooSox pitching coach, who is impressed with the lefty.

“Dro did a great job this offseason, getting stronger, right?” said WooSox pitching coach Dan DeLucia while on the “To the Show” Baseball Show. “And really, you know, just the work ethic, right?

“He was in a tough spot at the end of the year last year. I don't know if he felt like his back was against the wall maybe this year, but I mean, he put the work in. You saw what I saw when he first arrived in Fort Myers. He physically looks better, bigger, and stronger.

“The shoulder strength is back to where he wants it, and as a result, he's throwing right now at 95 mph, sitting in 94 mph, where he struggled to even get close to that last year at certain times.

“I know he's feeling good. I haven't seen him with my own eyes yet, but I've talked to a lot of the other minor league coaches who have had him. He's opening some eyes on the minor league side right now.”

HENDRIKS OPENS YEAR ON IL

Liam Hendriks began the new season on the injured list with right elbow inflammation. He met with his orthopedic surgeon and came away optimistic based on his appointment.

“It shouldn’t be too long of a layoff,” Hendriks said.

Hendriks received an injection to help the nerve issue and said he would be shut down from throwing for 3-5 days. He intends to resume playing catch during Boston's three-game series in Baltimore next week and gradually increase his participation thereafter. Hendriks did not have an MRI because doctors did not feel the issue was serious enough to require one.

“It’s kind of a compressed nerve that had been building,” Hendriks explained. “I’ve had it for a while but had tried pitching through it and going through it, but it wasn’t getting any better. My last live (batting practice session) was down a couple of ticks from where I was as well. It’s something I’ve been battling through spring, but my mindset is trying to pitch through things usually. Throw through it, and it’ll get better, generally. It just hasn’t worked out thus far.”

Hendriks missed all of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery and had a healthy offseason. The Australian came into camp ready to compete to be the team’s closer. In seven games, he allowed seven earned runs on 14 hits over 6 1/3 innings, resulting in a 9.95 ERA. He did not appear to be in top form.

Ultimately, the club named Aroldis Chapman is closer to the tail end of camp.

The Red Sox believe that Hendrik's injury is minor, and he should be back soon.

“Let’s hope,” said Hendriks when asked if the nerve issue was the cause of his poor spring performance. “There were a lot of struggles in spring. There were a lot of swings there that were atypical from what I’m used to getting. It goes into that. This gives me a chance to settle, let this thing die down, and get back to where I need to.

“It’s nothing permanent. Nothing structurally wrong. It’s just a little bit of soreness in there that was bugging me, especially on extension. When I was throwing in spring training, even at 95-96 mph, it was still not the same vibe as what I had previously."

WINCKOWSKI TO BE A RELIEVER

Josh Winckowski will pitch out of the WooSox bullpen after he struggled during the spring. Boston optioned him to Triple-A Worcester on March 19.

Last season, the right-hander saw action as both a starter and a reliever. He made 12 starts, six for the WooSox and six for the Red Sox. He was mostly utilized as a reliever.

Winckowski has been one of the Red Sox' most used relievers, tossing 83 1/3 innings since 2023. He’s also made 21 starts over the last three seasons. He struggled at times, resulting in being optioned to Triple-A Worcester. This spring he allowed 12 runs and 15 hits (two homers) with six walks while striking out four.

VETERAN LEFTY HEADING TO WOOSOX' IL

Veteran left-hander Matt Moore, who the Red Sox signed to a minor league deal on February 23, will begin the season on the WooSox’ 7-day injured list.

After learning he didn't make the Opening Day roster, Moore had the option to opt out of his deal with the Sox. He instead decided to remain with the Red Sox and report to Triple-A Worcester.

“Just some arm soreness,” senior director of player development Brian Abraham said Friday in the WooSox’ clubhouse at Polar Park.

Moore stayed back in Fort Myers, but he’s expected to meet the WooSox next week when they play in Jacksonville.

“Just precautionary, speaking with our medical staff down there,” Abraham said. “We don’t have any information other than that as of right now. Just he wasn’t going to be ready for Opening Day.”

Prior to signing with the Red Sox, Moore held throwing sessions for scouts in the Phoenix area in February, one on Valentine’s Day and a second one on February 18, according to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo.

The southpaw signed with the Red Sox and reported to JetBlue Park within 48 hours of his last throwing session. Because teams around the league wanted to assess his health, he held the workout for clubs.

Zach Penrod's elbow injury was one of the factors that led the Sox to add Moore.

Boston is optimistic that Moore is not the same pitcher as he was last season, when he encountered difficulties against the Angels. He posted a 5.03 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 41 strikeouts, and 26 walks in 51 relief outings (48 1/3 frames).

"It’s just, ‘Hey, we like you; we think we can help you get back to a place where you’ve been recently. We’d like for you to be a part of the process,“ Moore said about the Red Sox sales pitch to bring him to Fort Myers. ”That’s really just about it.

“As a player, it’s when there’s interest in you that’s stronger than maybe other spots," he said. “‘Hey, we think we can help you,' or ‘Hey, we can see a fit for you here.’ I think that’s the stuff we want to hear as opposed to, ‘You can come try out.‘ For me, I think it was just the interest level that felt right."

The left-handed hurler owns a career 4.39 ERA in 369 outings, including 164 starts. He has a 3.64 ERA in 205 relief outings over his career.

MEDIA DAY TRADE

At one point, right-handed reliever Noah Davis was sitting at his locker scrolling on his phone as media day was underway from Polar Park on Thursday afternoon.

The next minute, his chair was empty. Manager Chad Tracy summoned Davis into his office and informed him of his trade to the Dodgers for cash considerations.

Davis had a clause in his deal that forced the Red Sox to either add him to the 40-man roster or he could opt out.

“I knew I had my assignment clause coming up at the end of spring; I just figured with that leverage my goal was to get back onto a 40-man roster somewhere,” said Davis to Boston Sports Journal following the trade.

“I felt like it was the right decision to execute it, even though I loved my time here with the Boston Red Sox. Spring training was enjoyable; everything was in accordance with my perspective on the game and development. I’m looking forward to being back on a 40-man roster and getting more of the same with the Dodgers.”

Boston signed Davis to a minor league deal during the offseason. Davis, 27, pitched in nine games for the Rockies last season, posting a 5.75 ERA with 15 strikeouts and seven walks in 20 1/3 innings. He’s pitched in parts of three big league seasons, all with Colorado, going 0-4 with a 7.71 ERA, striking out 43 batters to 23 walks over 51 1/3 innings.

In 123 innings of work with the Rockies’ Albuquerque affiliate, the right-handed hurler has posted a 5.05 ERA with a 19.1% strikeout rate against an 11.9% walk rate.

RED SOX RELEASE MINOR LEAGUE PITCHER ACQUIRED IN BENINTENDI DEAL

The Red Sox released one of the pitchers acquired in the 2021 trade that sent outfielder Andrew Benintendi to the Royals.

Boston cut right-handed pitcher Grant Gambrell after three seasons in the Sox’ system. Only Josh Winckowski, who is starting the season with the WooSox, remains from the trade.

The 27-year-old missed the entire 2022 season after undergoing five surgeries to remove a benign tumor in his heel. He returned to the mound for the Sea Dogs the following season and, after a strong start, was promoted to the WooSox. The righty made just 16 starts in Worcester last season, going 4-6 with a 4.09 ERA and 1.42 WHIP. He also dealt with right forearm inflammation, which landed him on the 60-day IL.

Gambrell made three appearances for the Red Sox this spring, recording a 20.25 ERA with one strikeout and one walk in 1 1/3 innings of work.

The Red Sox also released right-handed pitcher Taylor Broadway and catcher Daniel McElveny.

Boston initially acquired Broadway during the summer of 2022 in a three-player deal that sent left-handed reliever Jake Diekman to the White Sox. The Sox also acquired catcher Reese McGuire in the same trade.

Broadway missed all of the 2024 season after he underwent Tommy John surgery. The 27-year-old began the 2023 season at Triple-A Worcester. The WooSox sent him back to Portland after he pitched in 22 games. After pitching in three games for the Sea Dogs, he landed on the IL and was shut down for the remainder of the season.

McElveny was committed to San Diego State but opted to sign with the Red Sox after he was selected in the sixth round during the 2021 MLB Draft. The 5-foot-11, 190-pounder never played higher than Low-A Salem, spending parts of the last three seasons with the Sox’ affiliate.