Mickey Pena promoted to Portland, Luis Diaz up to Salem

A pair of minor league left-handers earned promotions on Tuesday, as Mickey Pena (pictured) was promoted to Double-A Portland while Luis Diaz was promoted from Low A Greenville to take his spot in the High A Salem rotation.

Pena, 22, has made 15 starts for Salem this season, compiling a 6-7 record with a 4.00 ERA. Pena had really upped his game in his last seven starts, pitching 46 innings and allowing just 34 hits and 17 walks while striking out 28. He is scheduled to start Wednesday's contest against New Hampshire (TOR).

Pena served a 50-game suspension earlier this season for testing positive under baseball's minor league drug prevention system. The 2011 sixth-round selection had a stellar season last year with the Drive, going 8-7 with a 2.95 ERA in 20 games (19 starts). 

Diaz, 21, has had a breakout campaign in his second stint with Greenville. In 88 innings over 15 appearances, 14 starts, he has posted a 2.05 ERA on 74 hits and 20 walks, striking out 86. Diaz signed with the Red Sox in 2008 and has been climbing the ladder slowly and steadily since, spending two seasons in the Dominican Summer League before breaking camp in 2011 with Short-Season Lowell and spending last year with the Drive.

Outfielder Felix Sanchez was activated from the Greenville DL to take Diaz's vacated roster spot. The 23-year-old outfielder is currently hitting .204/.281/.236 with one home run and 12 RBI in 66 games.

Photo Credit: Mickey Pena by Kelly O'Connor. 

John Gray is a Staff Writer for SoxProspects.com. Follow him on Twitter. 

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