The Boston Red Sox have a deep pitching staff this season. They have added players through trades and through offseason signings but one of their bullpen arms has been primed through the farm system.
Brandon Workman was once just a right handed specialist for the Boston Red Sox who was promoted and demoted constantly. He has now turned himself into a seventh inning specialist and has a career low ERA out of the bullpen.
Brandon Workman in 2013, Photo Courtesy of pressherald.com.
Workman has been a lock down pitcher for a while now. He is now finally sinking into his role with the Red Sox.
In his high school career he had a 10-2 record and had a 0.81 ERA and 171 strikeouts in 76 innings. Out of 228 possible outs, Workman struck out 171 which means he struck out three out of every 4 batters he faced.
After being drafted by the Boston Red Sox, he was named Minor League pitcher of the year for the Portland Sea Dogs in 2012.
In Workman’s last complete season that he pitched in the MLB he went 1-10 and had a 5.17 ERA in just 19 games.
Workman has a career 4.50 ERA but is turning in his best season in 2017 with a 2.41. ERA.
Post Tommy John surgery Brandon Workman has been incredible. In 37 innings pitched he has given up 10 earned runs and has a positive WAR (+.8). He has now done that for the first season of his short MLB career.
He’s also getting hit much less: per nine innings he is giving up just eight hits. Workman averages just over an inning pitched per appearance so minimizing hits against is a major factor.
Brandon Workman has changed his career and he’s done it all post Tommy John surgery. Workman has found a way to be a consistently used arm out of the pen. When he first came into the league he was bounced around from triple A and Major League.
When a major injury happens, it normally takes time for a player to bounce back. Some players end up never being the same.
Workman has found a way to harness his ability and go back to his minor league days.
Early on in his MLB career, Workman struggled, and just watching him post Tommy John surgery you can see that his confidence has changed. Workman has been throwing breaking balls for strikes when he needs to and has the ability to throw any pitch he chooses.
Brandon Workman has a different attitude post Tommy John surgery and it’s improving his pitching.
Workman may have few innings pitched under his belt. Workman has pitched in seven postseason games and pitched a total of 8.2 innings in those seven games.
He’s faced 35 batters struck out four and has given up no earned runs. Brandon Workman is an extremely important piece for the Boston Red Sox come playoff time.
If he can continue to be as effective as he has been post Tommy John, the Boston Red Sox will have enough firepower in the bullpen. With Addison Reed, Brandon Workman and Craig Kimbrel slamming the door the Red Sox bullpen looks strong enough to make a deep run.
Featured Image Courtesy of Chowderandchampions.com.
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