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Boston Red Sox left-handed minor league pitcher Brian Johnson’s career nearly ended as quickly as it began last season because of a freak injury. Healthy once again, he is trying to prove he can be one the of the team’s top prospects.

The 22-year-old southpaw was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 27th round of the 2009 draft out of high school, but he elected to attend the University of Florida.

He had a stellar career as a Gator, posting a 22-12 record with a 3.85 ERA, according to his school biography. He was also a .324 hitter for his collegiate career, earning the 2012 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award.

Despite his overall baseball ability, he entered the 2012 draft as a pitcher and was made the 31st-overall selection in the first round by the Red Sox. That pick had been obtained as compensation for the Philadelphia Phillies having signed free-agent reliever Jonathan Papelbon away from the Red Sox the previous offseason.

SoxProspects.com’s scouting report lists Johnson’s arsenal as a low-90s fastball, average curveball and changeup and an occasional slider. They believe he “projects as a back-end of the rotation starter, who can have a season or two at the level of a third starter in peak.”

Johnson signed for $1.575 million just weeks after his selection, according to Baseball America’s Jim Callis.

After inking his contract, Johnson was assigned to short-season Lowell. With Florida having played deep into the 2012 College World Series, he had just 5.2 (scoreless) innings in his first four professional starts.

The fourth start came against the Hudson Valley Renegades and nearly ended his career. The game was part of the Future at Fenway showcase, an annual event where two of Boston’s minor league affiliates play at Fenway Park. Ironically, it was also Johnson’s first game in the stadium where he hoped to have a major league career.

Joey Rickard, the game’s first batter, lined Johnson’s second pitch of the day, a fastball, back up the middle. It struck the southpaw in the head, causing multiple orbital bone fractures on the left side of his face, ending his season and putting his future in doubt.

The Eagle-Tribune’s David Willis got a full description of the horrific play from Johnson:

I saw the hitter’s swing and tried to get my glove over my face…Then I saw blood on my arm and took a knee.

I threw a fastball and it just came right back at me…By the time he finished his swing, it had already hit me and bounced away.

There was zero pain…My ears were ringing. I never lost consciousness. I remember putting my hand over my face, then looking for the ball.

Johnson described his lengthy recovery to SoxProspects.com’s Matt Huegel:

It was just different, because it was [not a pitching injury]…It wasn‘t like my arm was hurting or I pulled a hamstring, it was my face. [I didn’t need] surgery, the only thing I had to do was let time [pass]. I think it was a total of three months, three and a half, before I was able to eat anything again and stuff like that.

The Rickard line drive wasn’t the first time Johnson suffered a serious head injury in a game. ESPN Boston’s Chris Hatfield reported that during the SEC tournament in 2011, his teammate, catcher Mike Zunino, hit him in the back of the head by a throw to second base, causing the pitcher to miss three weeks.

Johnson remained upbeat following his injury at Fenway, even telling Willis, “This isn’t going to stop me.” So far, he has been good to his word.

He started the 2013 season with Single-A Greenville and has made one start, allowing six hits and one run over four innings, while striking out two and walking one.

Because of his college pedigree, he could move quickly through the Boston system if he gets some effective professional innings under his belt. The next few months of the season could tell a lot about what his future may hold.

Johnson still has a lot to prove as a prospect. However, he has already shown an ability to get up after being knocked down, and that’s something that can’t be taught.

Statistics via Baseball-Reference 

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The Toronto Blue Jays’ hopes for a postseason run in 2013 appeared to take a major hit Friday night when shortstop Jose Reyes left the game with an apparently serious ankle injury. As team officials wait to find out the extent of his situation, they should start considering possible replacements if it turns out to be a long-term absence.

MLB.com’s video showed that Reyes hurt his ankle while attempting a stolen base and sliding into second in the sixth inning of a game against the Kansas City Royals:

MLB Network analyst Dan Plesac indicated in a tweet his belief that the injury was serious:

#BlueJays Jose Reyes leaves on stretcher…. Looks like left foot/ankle area… Late slide into 2nd base bag. Not good. Looks serious.

— Dan Plesac (@Plesac19) April 13, 2013

Losing Reyes for any length of time would be a huge blow to Toronto. Despite the team’s 4-6 start, he had led the team with a .395 batting average and an American League-leading five stolen bases.

While the Blue Jays wait to find out about Reyes, who was a centerpiece acquisition this past offseason, they must start looking ahead in the event of a lengthy absence.

Click through to see three possible replacements for Reyes if he is forced to miss extensive time this season.

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The 2013 major league regular season is barely a week old, but the Boston Red Sox are already facing their first major question. Should Jose Iglesias or Stephen Drew be the team’s starting shortstop?

The two players have compelling claims to the job, but it is Drew who should be the starter, while Iglesias should continue honing his craft in the minor leagues.

The 30-year-old Drew, a veteran of seven major league seasons, was signed this past offseason to a one-year, $9.5 million deal to be Boston’s starting shortstop in 2013.

He is a career .265 hitter with 77 home runs and 349 RBI in 812 major league games. His combined dWAR of 4.2 suggests that he has been a slightly above average defender.

The left-handed hitter was 3-for-16 in spring training this year before suffering a concussion and missing the end of camp.

He just finished a four-game rehab stint with Double-A Portland and is expected to be activated from the seven-day disabled list on Wednesday.

Iglesias, a 23-year-old prospect from Cuba, took over for Drew in his absence.

Considered a slick fielder, Iglesias has filled in admirably during the first week of the season, collecting nine hits in 20 at-bats and playing excellent defense.

Once among Boston’s top prospects, Iglesias has seen his stock slip because of his below average ability at the plate. He has just a .261 combined batting average with two home runs and 64 walks in 261 minor league games, and a .202 batting average with one home run and four walks in 41 major league games.

Despite his hot start to this season, the Providence Journal’s Brian MacPherson writes that the Red Sox shouldn’t be fooled by Iglesias’ early stats:

Of Iglesias‘s nine hits so far this season, two have been push bunts to first base, four have been infield singles and the other three all have been either grounded or chopped past the third baseman. Few—if any—could be said to have been hit with authority…

If Iglesias were working counts and drawing walks or scalding line drives up the gap, he’d be making the decision tougher on the Boston front office.

But Iglesias can’t draw walks until he can hit the ball hard enough to dissuade pitchers from staying in the strike zone. He’s not doing that. He instead is benefiting from good fortune—a hole here, an infielder caught napping there.

Boston manager John Farrell has said all along that Drew wouldn’t lose his job because of injury. He recently discussed the matter with the Boston Herald’s Ron Borges, explaining, “We’re certainly not going to take away from what Jose’s done, but we signed a premium guy in the offseason to be our starting shortstop. We’re not going to look at an injury to cause him to lose his job.”

Even though Drew is higher paid than Iglesias, it’s not like the youngster is making minimum wage. Because of the contract he originally signed with the Red Sox in 2009, he will make $2.06 million this season.

Sending Iglesias to the minors isn’t about money as much as it is about giving the more experienced player the starting spot. It also allows Iglesias to gain valuable experience at Triple-A Pawtucket and be able to play every day.

According to WEEI’s Alex Speier, Iglesias claims he will gracefully accept whatever decision is made about his fate:

I just go out and play the game and try to win. I don’t know what’s going to happen… I just prepare myself to play every day and help this team win and be ready to go every day… I’m going to enjoy the game no matter where. Obviously you want to play here. The atmosphere it’s fun being around these guys. But if I have to go I don’t mind.

That positive attitude is an encouraging sign. If he accepts a demotion without fanfare and plays well in the minors, he is sure to be back in Boston before long.

With Drew only on a one-year deal, the Red Sox could be looking for a new starting shortstop as soon as next year. If Iglesias can continue becoming a more complete player, he could be in the conversation for that spot.

Although there are arguments to be made for both players, Drew is the best choice as the starting shortstop this season. But he shouldn’t get too comfortable—if Iglesias continues to play well, he will make future decisions more difficult for the Red Sox.

Statistics via Baseball-Reference

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The Boston Red Sox have started their 2013 season off in an impressive fashion, taking three out of four games on the road against the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays. They will soon get even stronger, as the impending returns of injured players Stephen Drew and David Ortiz will shake up the roster.

Drew, a shortstop, began the season on the seven-day disabled list because of a concussion. He is now in the midst of a brief rehab stint with Double-A Portland and could be activated within the next week.

Ortiz is the longest-tenured member of the Red Sox but has played in just one major league game since last July 16 because of an Achilles injury. Having missed all of spring training, the designated hitter has just resumed full baseball activities. After a minor league rehab stint he is expected to be back in Boston in about three weeks.

The return of these two veterans will necessitate a roster shakeup to accommodate their activation from the disabled list.

Drew was signed to a one-year, $9.5 million contract this past offseason. Once he is healthy, he will play if for no other reason than he is being paid to be the starter.

Young Cuban shortstop Jose Iglesias has played well filling in for Drew, collecting seven hits in 12 at-bats, while displaying stellar defense. It’s hard not to find that encouraging in light of the 23-year-old having his prospect stock slip because of his inconsistent bat.

Despite his strong start, he should be returned to the minors once his counterpart is activated.

WEEI’s Alex Speier wrote that Iglesias’ hot start won’t create a controversy when Drew is ready to return. Boston manager John Farrell explained, “We’re certainly not going to take away from what Jose’s done, but we signed a premium guy in the offseason to be our starting shortstop and we’re not going to look at an injury to cause him to lose his job.”

In order to reach his fullest potential, Iglesias needs to play every day. That won’t be possible in Boston once Drew returns.

The Red Sox can’t be blinded by Iglesias’ hot start because it is such a small sample size and he lacks a proven track record.

If he continues his torrid play in the minors, there will eventually be a place for him in Boston. Just not this year. He knows he has to play aggressively, telling The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo, “I have my confidence back and that’s a good thing.”

The displacement caused by Ortiz’s return is a bit more complicated. Since the 37-year-old slugger exclusively plays designated hitter, a position player will have to be sacrificed to balance the roster.

Outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. has the least experience of any player on the team, but the Red Sox would do well to keep him in Boston.

The prized 23-year-old prospect was a last-minute addition to the 25-man roster to start the year after hitting .419 during spring training and enduring a lengthy debate about whether he was ready for the majors.

If he spends 20 consecutive days in the minor leagues at any point in 2013, his free agency clock will be delayed an extra year until 2019. Despite that temptation, Boston already rolled the dice to bypass that and putting their best players on the field to start the year.

Bradley is simply too valuable an asset to ship out when Ortiz returns.

He has played well in the early going, producing three hits, four walks, three RBI, a stolen base and four runs scored in his first four games, all while playing excellent defense in left field.

In addition to his play, he has also created a spark amongst Red Sox fans. His ability to put butts in the seats and have people talking about a team coming off a 93-loss season in 2012 cannot be overstated.

The most obvious choice to be sent down when Ortiz is healthy is outfielder Daniel Nava. While the switch-hitter learned to play first base this spring, he has limited upside, plays the same positions as fellow benchmate Mike Carp and still has a minor league option.

The gritty, 30-year-old Nava is a nice story because he went undrafted and made his way to the majors after starting his professional career in the independent leagues. But his modest skill set and lack of marketing appeal make him the appropriate choice.

Regardless of who is demoted, the Red Sox will certainly welcome back two veteran players like Drew and Ortiz with open arms. With 23 combined major league seasons and 478 home runs between them, they could make a huge impact over the remainder of the season. That would make the upcoming roster shuffle more than worth it. 

Statistics via Baseball-Reference

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When the Boston Red Sox hit the road to play a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays this weekend, there could be quite a few boos.

It won’t be because of poor play. It will be because Toronto fans hates Boston manager John Farrell.

Bobby Valentine was relieved from his duties as Boston’s manager last October following a 93-loss season and a proclivity for controversy.

Farrell, who was in the midst of a contract and had just finished his second year helming the Blue Jays, was immediately identified as Boston’s top candidate. He was officially hired, signing a three-year deal after the two teams were able to negotiate compensation in the form of exchanging players.

The primary reason he was so coveted by Boston was his familiarity with the organization. He served as the team’s pitching coach from 2007 through 2010 under former manager Terry Francona, earning rave reviews for his baseball acumen.

Farrell left Boston following the 2010 season to pursue managing and was hired as the Blue Jays skipper. However, he produced a combined record of just 154-170 during his two years leading the team.

Now that Farrell is returning to Toronto in a different uniform, it’s expected that he will be on the receiving end of quite a bit of negativity. It won’t be because of his mediocre record with the Blue Jays but rather the perception that he left the team that gave him his first chance to manage as soon as a better opportunity came along.

The Toronto Sun‘s Steve Buffery didn’t mince words when writing of his disdain for Farrell’s exit from Canada: “In Farrell’s world, though he speaks like a politician—that is, he says a lot without actually saying much—if you read between the lines, Toronto just wasn’t big-league enough for him.”

The Boston Globe’s Peter Abraham reported that Farrell is being called a “scoundrel” in Canada and is considered the biggest sports villain in Toronto since NBA star Vince Carter demanded a trade from the Raptors in 2005.

Buffery also accused Farrell of being selfish and not caring how he negatively impacted the Blue Jays or their fans:

By all means boo Farrell when he ambles on to the Rogers Centre infield Friday night for game one of a three-game series against the Red Sox.

But then get on with it, because I’ve got news for you. Farrell doesn’t care. He wouldn’t care if Toronto fans boo him until cows come home, or when the beer truck arrives at the Red Sox clubhouse at Fenway Park.

He got what he wanted.

Predictably, Farrell is choosing not to engage in all of the negativity. Instead, he is choosing to take the high road. He explained to WEEI’s Alex Speier that he doesn’t care what his image is because he is focused on the present:

Villain or bad guy, whatever it might be, I can only say we’re looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead of us. People are going to have their own opinions, and I respect that. It goes along with the heightened interest in the Blue Jays and a lot of the changes they’ve made…I can fully appreciate that they might have those feelings…But we’re looking forward to going up there and competing against them.

 

Baseball is a game of limited opportunities, especially when it comes to making a career as a player or a coach. It’s imperative to strike while the iron is hot because there is no guarantee another opportunity will present itself.

Farrell’s career arc as a manager is no different than anyone else’s. He originally left Boston when he got his first offer to manage a team. After two years in that capacity with Toronto, he moved to another managerial job he deemed to be more desirable. That’s simple career mobility, not the actions of a bad person.

A busy offseason saw the Blue Jays make a number of additions that immediately propelled them to contender status, giving the team and its fans a lot to look forward to. Continuing a grudge against Farrell in light of their expectations for this season seems both perplexing and petty.

No matter how much booing and name-calling takes place during the series between the Red Sox and the Blue Jays, the ultimate outcome will be determined by who wins the games. Even so, it appears that a new rivalry is brewing, and it’s all because John Farrell is a hated man in Toronto.  

Statistics via Baseball-Reference

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The Boston Red Sox may have won their first game of the 2013 season, but they are always looking to improve. Keeping with that philosophy, the team signed free-agent infielder Brandon Snyder on Tuesday to a minor league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Pawtucket.

The story was first reported in a tweet by CLNSradio.com’s Chris Cotillo:

Source: The #RedSox are signing Brandon Snyder to a minor league deal, and he will report to Pawtucket.

— Chris Cotillo (@TradeDeadliner) April 2, 2013

The Providence Journal’s Brian MacPherson confirmed the signing in a subsequent tweet:

The Red Sox added first baseman Brandon Snyder and assigned him to Pawtucket. Snyder was released by the Rangers four days ago.

— Brian MacPherson (@brianmacp) April 2, 2013

The 26-year-old Snyder is a right-handed hitter who plays both first base and third base and even has some experience in the outfield.

He was the 13th-overall selection in the 2005 draft by the Baltimore Orioles out of high school. He began his career as a catcher but converted to infield in 2007.

In 727 career minor league games, he has a combined .275 batting average with 74 home runs and 425 RBIs.

He debuted with the Orioles in 2010, playing in 10 games that season and appeared in an additional six games in 2011.

Most recently, he played for the Texas Rangers last year, appearing in 40 games and hitting .277 with three home runs and nine RBI in 65 at-bats.

During his three major league seasons, he has a .276 batting average with three home runs and 13 RBI in 98 at-bats.

When it became apparent to Snyder that he would not make the Rangers out of spring training this year, he requested and was granted his unconditional release, allowing him to sign with the Red Sox.

He explained to MacPherson that he decided to leave Texas because, “Being with the Rangers, they were so packed up with guys. There were a lot of guys they needed to look at. I was just really looking for the opportunity to play, to get a chance to get a change of scenery.”

Snyder already has some familiarity with the Boston organization. His cousin, pitcher Madison Younginer, was drafted by the Red Sox in 2009 and is about to enter his fourth season in their minor league system.

Although Snyder will start the year in the minors, he’s now the team’s top option if it needs another player at one of the corner infield positions. He essentially replaces Mauro Gomez, who was designated for assignment prior to Opening Day.

The signing of Snyder gives the Red Sox another insurance policy in the event of injuries or other unforeseen circumstances. It’s unclear if he will play in Boston this season, but his versatility and experience make him a valuable addition.

Statistics via Baseball-Reference

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The 2013 Boston Red Sox will need a lot of player contributions if they want to rebound from last year’s disappointing 93 losses. In particular, the team needs a big season from pitcher Clay Buchholz. 

The 28-year-old right-hander has struggled to find consistency during his six-year major league career, but he’s become a source of optimism for the upcoming season. 

Buchholz was a supplemental first-round draft choice of the Red Sox in 2005 out of McNeese State University. He debuted with Boston in 2007 and famously no-hit the Baltimore Orioles in just his second major league start. Since then, his results have been a mixed bag. 

Buchholz is a combined 46-32 with a 3.92 ERA in 107 career games (105 starts). His best season came in 2010, when he went 17-7 with a 2.33 ERA in 28 starts. That season, he was named an All Star and finished sixth in American League Cy Young voting.

There have also been nagging injuries, including a stress fracture in his back that caused Buchholz to miss all but 14 starts in 2011.

He went 11-8 with a 4.76 ERA last year, throwing a career-high 189.1 innings. Buchholz was much better down the stretch, however, as his 3.76 ERA in the second half of the season was nearly two runs better than his 5.53 mark from the first half.

The Red Sox need Buchholz to take the leap to a dependable and durable starter who can log innings and keep the team in games.

These expectations are not lost on the righty, who told the Boston Herald’s Michael Silverman that his goal is to become a consistent workhorse:

Yeah, that’s a big thing for me, I want to get to that point and hopefully that will eliminate all the small talk that’s been talked about me in the past. That’s probably the common goal for every starting pitcher. I think the key to that is just being healthy and being able to go out there every fifth day and not missing a span of time during the season, and not being able to make your 30 or so starts.

The Red Sox have already invested in Buchholz’s potential. They agreed to a four-year, $29.9 million extension just after the start of the 2011 season, with two option years that could be worth an additional combined $26.5 million and keep him in Boston through the 2017 season.

If he can be even a league-average pitcher during the remainder of his contract, Buchholz would be extremely valuable. Pitching is the hottest commodity in baseball, with Justin Verlander’s recent record-setting $180 million extension setting the market pace.

Buchholz will be the team’s No. 2 starter this season behind ace Jon Lester. The baby-faced pitcher is no longer a prospect and needs to perform like the well-paid veteran that he is because of questions marks surrounding the team’s rotation.

Lester is trying to bounce back from a career-worst 9-14 record and 4.82 ERA last year. Ryan Dempster, signed to a free-agent contract during the offseason, has just a 4.76 career ERA against American League teams. And John Lackey is returning from Tommy John surgery and hasn’t pitched in a regular season game since 2011.

Felix Doubront, meanwhile, has a lot of potential. He struck out more than a batter per inning last season, his first full year in Boston’s rotation. Although he threw well this spring, though, he did anger the front office by showing up to camp in poor shape.

If Buchholz can turn in a consistent season, it would go a long way in solidifying the rotation that has so few guarantees. If spring training stats are any indication, he is ready to prove himself this season. He made six starts this spring, going 3-0 with a 0.79 ERA while striking out 22 batters in 22.2 innings.

Buchholz is also picking up his pace between pitches in an effort to keep hitters more off-balance. This is a philosophy taught by new Boston pitching coach Juan Nieves and something Buchholz explained to the Boston Herald’s Scott Lauber will be a tool that will really help his game:

The pace of the game is big for me. That does a lot to help me. It’s more just, get the ball and get a pitch and throw it and take all the thinking out of it. It’s been particularly one of my problems that whenever something hits the fan, I slow the game down and make sure I’m doing the right thing, and sometimes that might hurt me more than it’ll help me.

The proof will be in the pudding once the games start to count. Buchholz’s performance this season will not only go a long way in determining the fate of the Red Sox, it will also establish his own legacy. 

Statistics via Baseball-Reference 

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Adam Eaton, considered among the most exciting young players in baseball, was expected to start in center field and bat leadoff for the Arizona Diamondbacks this year. Instead, it was recently announced that he will miss up to the first two months of the season because of injury. 

Arizona announced via the team’s Twitter account that the 24-year-old Eaton will miss the first six-to-eight weeks of the season because of a UCL injury in his left (throwing) elbow:

OFFICIAL: @dbacks OF @adamspankyeaton will miss 6-8 weeks with left elbow UCL sprain

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) March 22, 2013 

The story was confirmed in a separate report by CBSSports.com’s Mike Axisa. 

Eaton, who also bats left-handed, was expected to start in the wake of Justin Upton having been traded to the Atlanta Braves this past offseason. 

He first came to the organization as a 19th-round draft choice in 2010.

Despite standing only 5’8”, he consistently impressed during his time in the minors, batting a combined .355 with a .966 OPS and 98 stolen bases in 319 games over three seasons. 

Eaton also performed well in a 22-game major league cameo with Arizona last year. Playing regularly during the final month of the season, he hit .259 with two home runs, 19 runs and 14 walks.

The decision to go with him as a full-time starter in 2013 was looking good in light of his .390 batting average and 10 RBI in 20 games this spring.

Eaton was also starting to receive national accolades for his play. 

ESPN.com’s Keith Law named the outfielder his top potential impact rookie this season in an Insider (subscription required) article.

He was also ranked as Baseball America’s 73rd-best overall prospect entering the season.

FoxSports.com’s Jack Magruder reported that Eaton has a small tear to a ligament in his elbow. He had noticed discomfort in the elbow two weeks ago but had continued playing until finally getting it tested. 

According to an Associated Press article appearing on ESPN.com, Eaton was defiant in insisting that he would be back before his projected return timeline: 

I’m sitting here today saying it’s not going to take me that long. I’m going to do at all costs to get back quicker. I put all my faith in the doctors but at the same time for me there’s an aspect where I want to try to get back a little sooner and try to push things a little bit. We’ll be smart with it of course, we’re not going to do anything stupid with it. But I’m definitely going to try to do a speedy recovery for sure.

While Eaton is sidelined, Gerardo Parra will likely receive the bulk of the playing time in center field for the Diamondbacks.

Arizona general manager Kevin Towers told MLB.com’s Tyler Emerick that the plan is to shut Eaton down for a month and then ease him into a throwing rehab schedule. He will be able to swing a bat during the shutdown period, so he may not need much time to be game-ready when he is finally cleared to play.

The scrappy Eaton explained to Emerick how bitterly disappointed he was to receive news of his injury:

It’s the worst timing ever. I didn’t sleep a wink last night and I probably won’t for the whole month I’m out. It’s going to be tough to see the guys have fun every day, but I guess it’s all part of the game. It’s going to kill me for sure.

If he can come back quickly, Eaton would still have enough time to have an impact rookie season. For now, he’ll have to wait, which seems to be the worst agony of all.

Statistics via Baseball-Reference 

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The New York Yankees have added a familiar face to their team, signing veteran right-handed pitcher Chien-Ming Wang to a free-agent contract.

The story was first reported in a tweet by CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman:

#yankees agree to terms w/ wang

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) March 23, 2013

CBSSports.com’s Mike Axisa confirmed the report and indicated his belief that the contract was a minor league deal.

The 33-year-old Wang is a native of Taiwan. His first major league team was the Yankees, who signed him as an amateur free agent in 2000.

He made his major league debut in 2005, and won 19 games in both 2006 and 2007.

His success was short-lived, as he missed more than half of each of the 2008 and 2009 seasons because of nagging injuries to his feet and hips.

Wang signed with the Washington Nationals in 2010, but missed the entire season because of a shoulder injury.

He has pitched sparingly the past two years because of his inability to stay healthy or regain his former dominance.

Wang’s best season was in 2006, when he went 19-6 with a 3.63 ERA in 34 games (33 starts) and finished second in American League Cy Young voting behind the Minnesota Twins’ Johan Santana.

He struggled in 10 games (five starts) with the Nationals last year, posting just a 2-3 record and 6.68 ERA.

He has a career record of 61-32 with a 4.26 ERA in seven major league seasons.

Wang’s repertoire is highlighted by a heavy sinker that induces a lot of ground balls. He has allowed only a total of 54 home runs during his 756.1 career innings. By comparison, Cincinnati Reds’ right-hander Bronson Arroyo gave up 46 home runs in just 199 innings in 2011.

The Yankees decided to give Wang another shot after he pitched 12 shutout innings for Chinese Tapei in this year’s World Baseball Classic.

He was scouted heavily by a number of teams during the tournament but ultimately went to the Yankee’s spring training complex for a tryout that led to his signing.

With five starters (C.C. Sabathia, Andy Pettitte, Hiroki Kuroda, Phil Hughes and Ivan Nova) slotted for the major league staff, Wang will likely provide depth by starting the season in Triple-A. If he can prove his WBC was no fluke, he could give New York good value this year if they need another starter.

Wang is a long way from his former glory as the Yankees’ ace, but he and the team hope this reunion can help recapture his effectiveness and finish his career on a more positive note.

Statistics via Baseball-Reference

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Once among the best young relief pitchers in baseball, Boston Red Sox right-hander Daniel Bard looked lost last year during an attempted conversion to the starting rotation.

Although he has made great strides to reclaim his career this spring, it appears he still has work to do and will likely start the 2013 season in the minors. 

The 27-year-old Bard is a former first-round draft choice of the Red Sox. He posted a combined 2.88 ERA and 9.73 strikeouts per nine innings in his first three major league seasons, which were spent exclusively in the bullpen. 

Boston decided to convert him to a starter in 2012, in large part because of his big fastball, which FanGraphs.com indicates has averaged nearly 97 mph during his career.

The experiment was a disaster. Bard was just 5-6 with a 6.22 ERA in 17 games (10 starts) last year, while experiencing massive lapses in command and a demotion to the minors. 

He entered spring training this year without a roster spot and few expectations. Although he hasn’t been entirely consistent, the overall results have been much better. Once again pitching in relief, he has allowed four hits, three walks and three runs in six innings, while striking out seven. 

He was unscored upon in his first five innings, before allowing three runs in his last major league spring appearance.

WEEI’s Alex Speier reported that Bard struggled in a Double-A spring training game Friday, allowing two walks, a hit and a hit batter in two-thirds of an inning. 

Bard told Speier that regardless of the numbers, he’s been pleased with his results: 

I feel like I’m ready. I wasn’t to get back to pitching big innings for this team, important innings. It’s just a matter of getting out there consistently… 

I feel like I’m in such a better place. Velocity is coming back up. I feel like I’m in control out there… I feel like I have the stuff that I’m used to pitching with the last couple of years, the last few years.

Despite his optimism, it appears that barring an injury, he’s likely to be sent to the minors to start the season.

The Red Sox are expected to have one of the deepest bullpens in baseball, according to The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo.

Additionally, Bard still has a minor league option left, while Clayton Mortensen, perhaps his biggest competition, does not.

Boston’s 25-man roster won’t be set until the April 1 season opener against the New York Yankees is upon us, but The Boston Globe’s Peter Abraham projects that Bard will not make the initial cut, writing, “Daniel Bard is well down the road of shedding the woes that wrecked last season. But he’s not all the way there yet and does have options, so look for him to start the year in Pawtucket.”  

Pitching in the minors may be perceived as a punishment or an indication the team lacks confidence in Bard, but that’s not necessarily the case. With their bullpen depth, there’s no reason to push him, and he can continue working himself back to his previous form without the same intense scrutiny from the Boston media. 

Boston general manager Ben Cherington explained to the Boston Herald’s Scott Lauber that while the team is happy with Bard’s progress, they’re not going to rush him:

He’s a lot further ahead than where he ended the season. Probably still not all the way to where he wants to be, but sort of in the range of possibilities, he’s a lot closer to where he wants to be than where he was struggling last year. There’s definitely been a few outings where he’s looked pretty close, and I think he’s feeling gradually better about himself all the time. So we’ll see.

The nice thing, from my standpoint anyway, about his spring, is that we haven’t talked about it as much. At least it doesn’t seem like we have. He’s been able to just get his work and be a pitcher getting ready for the season.

Cherington refused to confirm to Lauber where Bard will start the season, but certainly made it sound like the minors are the most likely destination, stating, “This stuff tends to work itself out as time goes by. Our hope was that we had enough depth of good arms that by Opening Day we’ll have a lot of good options in the pen.”

Bard may not be with Boston at the start of the season, but if he continues working his way back, he could get the call soon.    

Statistics via Baseball-Reference 

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