Red Sox Notebook: Reliever Adam Ottavino back home in Yankee Stadium

Relief pitcher Adam Ottavino is anxious to experience the Red Sox vs. Yankees rivalry from both sides of the divide.

Ottavino, a right hander, played the last two seasons in pinstripes before being traded to the Red Sox along with minor league pitcher Frank German for cash considerations and a player to be named later.

Ottavino didn’t make an appearance in the Red Sox’ 5-2 victory on Friday night at Yankee Stadium, but anticipated he will encounter his former mates at some point in the three-game series.

“I think any time you face the team you were on with guys you know it’s a little unusual the first time,” said Ottavino prior to Saturday night’s game. “You try not to look at anybody in the face that you know and just concentrate on what I have to do out there.

“Beyond that, I’m just trying to compete and do my thing regardless.”

Ottavino witnessed the rivalry from both cities before making his MLB debut with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2009. Ottavino, 35, grew up in Manhattan.

But Ottavino elected to play collegiately in Boston at Northeastern, where he was the 2005 America East Conference pitcher of the year. (Ottavino’s Huskies were eliminated from the NCAA baseball playoffs with a 3-2 loss to N.J. Tech on Saturday in Fayetteville, Ark.)

Ottavino did National League stints with the Cardinals and Rockies before signing a dream come true three-year contract with the Yankees on Jan. 24, 2019. The Yankees reaped immediate benefits from the transaction. Ottavino appeared in 73 games and went 6-5 over 66 1/3 innings with a 1.90 ERA and 88 strikeouts. Ottavino experienced a drop-off in the COVID-shortened 2020 season and he suddenly found himself expendable.

“I kind of felt it coming just because I knew they wanted to stay under the (luxury) tax number,” said Ottavino. “Obviously they didn’t use me much in the (2020) playoffs so it just seemed like it made some sense from that perspective.

“I know that I had a lot of fans over there and there are some conflicted feelings over the whole thing. I kind of felt it coming but I didn’t expect to come to the Red Sox. I just kind of felt I might get traded. But I was living a dream playing for the team I grew up rooting for.”

Ottavino has brought a measure of stability to the Red Sox bullpen, and has also been positive influence in the clubhouse according to manager Alex Cora.

Cora credited Chaim Bloom and Yankees’ General Manager Brian Cashman for completing a transaction that is rare for the two organizations. The trade was completed on Jan. 25.

“He’s just that good,” said Cora. “We saw him in ’19 and he was outstanding against us,” said Cora. “Stuff-wise, I do believe his stuff is playing better now than actually two or three years ago.”

Ottavino has done his part to back up the manager’s assessment, appearing in 25 games; he’s 2-2 with 12 holds, which is tied for first in the American League. He has posted a 1.50 ERA in the last 20 games and has not been scored upon in his last nine appearances. Overall, 20 of his 25 appearances have been scoreless.

“I think I have the best stuff I’ve ever had right now, better than any other time” said Ottavino. “I just have to keep grinding away at those basic things like getting ahead in the count and not beating myself.

“But I like where I’m at and feeling my stuff is the best it’s ever been.”

Martinez out

Designated hitter J.D. Martinez’ aggressive head-first slides into second base caught up with him on Friday night. Martinez suffered a minor injury when his left wrist collided with the bag on a slide. The pain got worse overnight. Cora took him out of the lineup and replaced him in the third spot in the order with shortstop Xander Bogaerts.

The move had residual effects on the lineup. Leadoff hitter Danny Santana was taken out of left field and given the DH job. Hunter Renfroe, who wasn’t in Cora’s initial lineup, was put in left field.

“Yesterday (Friday) in that slide to second, he kind of jammed his (left) wrist against it (base),” said Cora. “He showed up today a little bit sore and we will take care of him, get treatment. If we need him late in the game, we will probably use him.

“But it didn’t look good and I’ve been telling J.D. his slides into second are aggressive and it doesn’t look too pretty. But he is just a big guy hustling to get into second base. He went into the bag and felt it this morning.”

Brasier suffers concussion

Relief pitcher Ryan Brasier returned home on Saturday following a brief stay in a Florida hospital for observation. Brasier suffered a concussion and an abrasion when he was struck in the head by a line drive during a simulated game on Thursday in Fort Myers.

The Red Sox wanted to have Brasier return to Boston and do a rehab assignment next week, possibly in Worcester. Those plans are currently on hold.

“Ryan is out of the hospital and he is at his apartment resting,” said Cora. “So far, everything has been OK and a concussion he’s got a big cut over his right ear but that’s all I have.

“I saw the video and I’m glad that he is home, let’s put it that way.”

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3z3b59f