Red Sox

As of Tuesday, ‘Boston PawSox’ Now Up to 19 Members

By Jeff Pini

August 5, 2014

Brock Holt, Jackie Bradley, Jr., and Mookie Betts all started the year on the farm, but have seen significant time in Boston in 2014. Jim Davis/The Boston Globe

Maybe the nickname “Boston PawSox” that some have dubbed the big club in Boston isn’t as ridiculous as you may think.

After Corey Brown and Heath Hembree were called up to the Red Sox and active for Tuesday’s game against the Cardinals, the Sox have seen 19 different players on their active roster who also suited up for Pawtucket at some point this season, not including rehab assignments.

The I-95 shuffle began on the first day of the season, when Shane Victorino was placed on the DL and Jackie Bradley, Jr., who lost a roster spot to Grady Sizemore in Spring Training, was recalled to the majors, and has been up ever since.

Over the first two months of the year, Brock Holt, Daniel Nava, Drake Britton, Brandon Workman, Ryan Lavarnway, Alex Wilson, and Rubby De La Rosa all saw time in both cities.

In June, Garin Cecchini, Alex Hassan, and Mookie Betts made their major league debuts, and come July, Tommy Layne got a call up on a day-night doubleheader on July 5, while the eventual release of A.J. Pierzynski saw Christian Vazquez brought up to Boston for the first time.

Allen Webster was recalled for a spot start on July 27 after Jake Peavy was dealt to the Giants. He later made another start on Aug. 2 against the Yankees.

Once the trade deadline had passed and the Sox had more than a few holes on their active roster, Betts, Middlebrooks, Wilson, and Layne, along with Anthony Ranaudo, were called up to Boston on Aug. 1, with Ranaudo winning his major league debut on that same date. Once David Ross was placed on the 15-day DL, catcher Dan Butler took his place in his first stint in the big leagues.

Steven Wright was called up for bullpen help on Sunday after the Sox optioned Wilson back to Triple-A, but didn’t pitch before he too was sent back down.

Brown and Hembree were recalled on Tuesday, representing the 18th and 19th players to play in both Pawtucket and Boston this season.

Needless to say, there have been a ton of miles logged on the 45 mile trek between McCoy Stadium and Fenway Park, and with the 2014 Red Sox continuing to tailspin, look for more PawSox to see their way onto the Boston roster before the year is done.