Mortensen recalled, Workman promoted, Erasmus released in roster shuffle

The placement of relief pitcher Vicente Padilla on the 15-day disabled list has set off a chain reaction of roster moves. The Red Sox announced that Clayton Mortensen has been recalled to take the place of Padilla on the 25-man roster. Alex Speier of WEEI.com reports that Steven Wright has been promoted to Pawtucket, Brandon Workman (pictured) has moved from Salem to Portland, and Mike McCarthy is on his way to join Salem. Eric Jarinko, the Greenville Drive director of media services, reported that Justin Erasmus has been released and Kyle Kraus has been promoted from Lowell to take his place on the roster.

The most notable promotion is Workman, currently the #15 prospect in the system on SoxProspects.com. A second-round pick in the 2010 draft, Workman has been solid for Salem, compiling a 3.40 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 113.2 innings of work. He has struck out 107 batters on the season, and walked only 20. The 6-foot-4 right-handed starter will head to Double-A armed with an arsenal that includes a fastball that tops out at 96, a cutter sitting in the low-80's, and a curveball, all of which he has shown ability to throw for strikes.

Mortensen is becoming very familiar with the ride from McCoy Stadium to Fenway Park; it is the fifth time this season that the 27-year-old right-hander has been recalled. In his four previous stints with Boston, Mortensen appeared in ten games, sporting an impressive 1.17 ERA.

Wright, acquired last week from the Indians in a deadline deal for Lars Anderson, made one start for Portland, allowing one run in 6.0 innings on Sunday. In 21 starts across the two organization, the knuckleballer is 10-6 with a 2.44 ERA.

After starting the season on the DL and struggling in May, McCarthy has pitched well, earning him the promotion to High A Salem. Since June 1, McCarthy has a 3.04 ERA in 47.1 innings pitched, appearing both as a starter and out of the bullpen.

Kraus has been the most impressive of several college seniors taken with high picks in the 2010 draft. The seventh-rounder has appeared in ten games out of the bullpen and is unscored upon in his last five. Overall, Kraus has given up only three earned in 10.1 innings.

The release of Erasmus concludes an extremely disappointing season for the 2011 SoxProspects.com All-Star. Following his 1.11 ERA in 2011, Erasmus was once again assigned to Greenville, where he was unable to match his previous success, going 1-3 with an unsightly 9.24 ERA and 1.73 WHIP in 49.2 innings pitched. Originally born in South Africa before moving to Australia at age nine, Erasmus was one of many Australian-based players brought into the Red Sox organization under former scouting director Craig Shipley when he signed with scout Mike Lord in March of 2007. Senior Columnist Jon Meoli spoke with Erasmus last August about his baseball journey.

Photo credit: Brandon Workman by Kelly O'Connor

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