April 27, 2012 at 5:22 PM
Pimentel to be activated, will start tonight in Portland
 |
| Stolmy Pimentel (Kelly O'Connor) |
Portland announcer Mike Antonellis is reporting that right-handed pitcher Stolmy Pimentel will be activated from the disabled list and will start tonight for the Sea Dogs. In a corresponding roster move, righty Michael Lee was released. Pimentel will start in place of Brock Huntzinger, who is moving to the bullpen per Kevin Thomas of the Portland Press Herald.
Pimentel, 22, is taking his second crack at the Double-A level. He began the 2011 season with Portland but struggled mightily in 15 starts, going 0-9 with a 9.12 ERA, striking out 30 and walking 23 in 50.1 innings pitched. A mid-season demotion to High A Salem seemed to help get him headed back in the right direction, as he finished up 6-4 with a 4.53 ERA, with 35 strike outs and 16 walks in 51.2 innings. Tonight will be the 2012 debut for Pimentel, as he had been out since a lat strain early in Spring Training.
Lee, 25, was an eighth-round draft choice in 2008. He had some success in the lower minors early on in his Sox career, but had struggled to make the transition to Double-A. Going back to last year, he had a 5.87 ERA in 96.2 innings with the Sea Dogs.
Huntzinger, a 2007 second round draft pick, has shown promise, but his recent results have been poor. After a 2011 season where he went 5-11 with a 6.17 ERA in 25 starts, Huntzinger began 2012 0-4 with a 9.19 ERA. The Red Sox hope a move to the pen will get his career back on track.