More Players Called Up: Heath Hembree to Join Red Sox Bullpen

The Red Sox are in St. Louis to face the Cardinals for the first time since the World Series matchup last fall, and they’ll have a couple of new players joining the roster.

According to multiple, Heath Hembree — the reliever acquired by the Sox in the deal that saw Jake Peavy going to the Giants — will join the major league club for tonight’s game. Steven Wright was optioned back to the PawSox after Sunday night’s game which will create a roster spot for Hembree.

“I’m definitely fortunate and thankful for the opportunity that they’re giving me already,” Hembree said to the Spartanburg Herald-Journal. “I had a couple of decent outings and they decided to go ahead and give me a shot. I’m looking forward to it.”

The 25-year-old Hembree made 41 relief appearances for Triple-A Fresno of the Pacific Coast League where he put up a 3.89 ERA. Hembree pitched 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief for the PawSox before getting the call up to the Red Sox.

Hembree enjoyed some limited success in the majors in 2013, when he struck out 12 batters while walking two in 7.2 innings of relief for San Francisco.

Hembree told the Herald-Journal that he’s just as excited about his second call-up to the majors.

“I’m looking forward to it just as much as I was the first time,” Hembree said. “I got a taste of it the first time and now I’m looking forward to getting back to the big leagues and getting another chance.”

According to a report on WEEI.com, outfielder Corey Brown will also join the Red Sox for the series in St. Louis.

The 28-year-old Brown has shown some pop in Pawtucket with 16 home runs and 39 RBIs, but he’s batting just .226. Brown played in 36 games for the Washington Nationals from 2011-13.