August 1, 2014 at 12:29 PM
Report: Owens promoted to Pawtucket
Top Red Sox pitching prospect Henry Owens will be promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket on Friday, according Alex Speier of WEEI.com citing multiple industry sources.
Owens, 22, has torn through Eastern League lineups this season. In 20 starts he's posted a 2.60 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP across 121 innings pitched. He's also struck out 126 batters and walked 47 batters.
The lanky, 6-foot-7 left-hander is the #3 ranked prospect on SoxProspects.com and the organization's top-rated pitching prospect. He was drafted out of Edison High School in California in the first supplemental round in 2011.
His fastball sits in the low-90's to high-80's, but plays up due to a slight deception in his 3/4 angle delivery. His best pitch is his changeup; it sits in the high 70's, and he controls it with great consistency. He's shown an ability to get out both right-handers and left-handers with the pitch. For more information on Owens's pitching profile, check out Chaz Fiorino's The Write-Up.
The Owens promotion is made possible by the promotion of Pawtucket starter Anthony Ranaudo (pictured) to Boston. Ranaudo will make his major league debut with the Red Sox on Friday against the New York Yankees filling one of the vacancies created during Thursday's trade activity. Ranaudo, 24, has been excellent in his second season in Pawtucket. Through 21 starts, he's posted a 2.41 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP across 119 1/3 innings. He's struck out 99 batters and walked 49 batters.
In addition to Ranaudo, left-handed reliever Tommy Layne will also be promoted to Boston, according to Speier's sources. Layne was an International League All-Star and has already logged one inning for Boston this season. He's posted a 1.50 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 48 innings for Pawtucket.
Photo Credit: Henry Owens and Anthony Ranaudo by Kelly O'Connor.