Why the Red Sox called up a massive 22-year-old lefthander who has never pitched above Double-A
On Sunday, Eduardo Rivera received great news: The Red Sox were promoting him from Double-A Portland to Triple-A Worcester, a new high point in his baseball career. He phoned his father, also Eduardo Rivera, back home in Puerto Rico, to share and celebrate. Officially, his first day with the WooSox was Tuesday. He did not pitch.
Late Tuesday night, Rivera got even better news: The Sox were bringing him to the majors — even though he has never appeared in a game at the top level of the minors. He called his father again. They couldn’t believe it.
The 6-foot-7-inch, 275-pound lefthander arrived at Fenway Park by 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, he said, some nine hours before first pitch against the Yankees.
He brought his stuff in a Portland Sea Dogs duffle bag.
“Like they said, I opened the ballpark,” Rivera, 22, said through an interpreter. “I couldn’t wait to be here in this clubhouse.”
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Rivera’s call-up came because the Red Sox were desperate for pitching. They sent righthander Jack Anderson down to Worcester; he had thrown 72 pitches and five innings over the previous three days, so he wouldn’t be available for at least a couple of games.
Still, though, the selection of Rivera was unexpected. He was far enough down the organizational depth chart that he didn’t even spend spring training with the major league team. This month, he had pitched in all of two games at Double-A (allowing one run and striking out 16 in 10 innings).
And now, not quite a month into the season, the Sox deemed him the best option — a testament to the hits their depth has taken in recent weeks.
Often in these situations, amid a desperate need for a fresh arm who can pitch several innings, a team will bring up someone more expendable. That way he can be designated for assignment — and potentially removed from the club entirely — shortly thereafter if needed.
But Rivera is more interesting of a player than that.
“[Rivera] always had huge stuff that will play in the big leagues,” chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said. “He’s been around the zone all season and if that continues to be the case, he will help us. He had a great [World Baseball Classic with Puerto Rico] pitching on a big stage. Sometimes there’s a don’t-overthink-this factor at play.”
Manager Alex Cora said: “He’s been under the radar the last few years. He’s a kid from back home who loves the game. He had a great WBC, threw the ball well, and gained momentum. … That he’s throwing the ball well and he can give us innings. I think that’s the reason it’s him.”
Rivera walked 8 percent of batters in his very small sample with Portland. Last year, he walked 16 percent of batters at the same level (in 10 games).
Using his massive frame, Rivera boasts a fastball that he said has been steadily around 98 miles per hour, better than years past. He also features a splitter.
Cora said Rivera was available out of the bullpen, for long and short relief.
“We’ll see how we use him,” Cora said. “But excited for him. He’s working his [expletive] off to get to his point, and now he’s a big leaguer.”
To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, the Sox transferred Triston Casas to the 60-day injured list. That has no impact on his timetable to return. He is dealing with an abdominal strain that interrupted his comeback from knee surgery last May.
Aching Anthony
Roman Anthony was missing from the lineup because he has a sore back, Cora said. The Sox hope he returns Thursday.
That issue popped up midgame Tuesday, per Cora, and he considered taking Anthony out. Anthony finished the game and told Cora Wednesday morning that he was still feeling it.
“I said, hey, man, the last time you felt something, you went out there and you took another swing and that was it,” Cora said, referencing Anthony’s oblique injury late last year. “Let’s play it smart today, we’ll see where you’re at tomorrow.”
Anthony also sat out two games last August because of back tightness.
Rotation rejiggering
The Sox will slot in Sonny Gray’s replacement in the rotation Thursday for the finale against the Yankees. Payton Tolle is an option. But so is Rivera, Cora said. That pushed Brayan Bello back to Friday against the Orioles, followed by Garrett Crochet and Connelly Early … Ceddanne Rafaela batted leadoff for the first time since April 23, 2024. “Trying to get something going,” Cora said.
Tim Healey can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @timbhealey.
