Featured Image courtesy of Zimbio.com (February 19, 2018 – Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America)
In the midst of a flurry of roster moves, the Red Sox Opening Day roster is set. They have 30 player left at camp, but five will not be available to start the season. This means that reliever Bobby Poyner has made the team.
#RedSox now have 30 players in camp. Hernandez, Maddox, Pedroia and Thornburg headed for the DL and Wright will start his suspension. Team is picked at this point,
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) March 26, 2018
Report: Red Sox reliever Bobby Poyner will make the big league club
Poyner originally joined the Red Sox as a 14th round pick out of Florida in the 2015 MLB Draft. Despite his low draft pedigree, Poyner has gone through the minor league system at a torrid pace. Assuming he makes the major league club, Poyner will have spent just three seasons in minor league ball.
He entered spring training as a non-roster invitee, which only makes his rise to the Boston Red Sox more impressive. The southpaw has had one of the better spring trainings in camp, allowing just one run in 9.1 innings of work.
Poyner beat out the more experienced Robby Scott and Roenis Elias for the bullpen roles. Both players have spent time on major league rosters, with Scott serving as the primary left-handed specialist. However, the Red Sox optioned both players to Triple-A Pawtucket early on Saturday morning.
The 25-year-old first entered the organization as a member of the Low A ball affiliate Lowell Spinners, and spent all of 2015 there. He impressed the Sox organization enough to begin 2016 with the Greenville Drive before joining the High A Salem Red Sox.
Poyner began 2017 with Salem, but was quickly promoted to the Portland Sea Dogs. Poyner posted a 0.94 ERA in 27 appearances with the Sea Dogs. His play established himself as one of the top relief arms in the Red Sox system.
