Taylor-made Opening Day
Rookie RHP capitalizes on injuries
WASHINGTON — The daylong showers that forced the cancellation of yesterday’s exhibition game between the Red Sox and Nationals did nothing to dampen Ben Taylor’s day.
Little more than an afterthought at the beginning of spring training, the 24-year-old right-hander was informed he’ll be standing on the first base line at Fenway Park when the rosters are introduced for Monday’s season opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Not bad for a kid who wasn’t even on the 40-man roster, has only two pro seasons on his resume and hasn’t even played a full season of Double-A ball.
“He’s had a fantastic spring training,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said. “He’s emerged year over year . . . he’s a quality strikeout performer in the minor leagues and he’s shown that here in camp, but what stood out to us was the mound presence and the poise that he showed.”
A seventh-round pick out of South Alabama in 2015, Taylor split last season between Single-A Salem and Double-A Portland, going a combined 1-2 with a 2.96 ERA in 36 appearances, all but three of them in relief.
With the Sox facing a number of pitching-related health crises to open the season — David Price, Drew Pomeranz and Tyler Thornburg are headed for stints on the disabled list — opportunities exist for longshots to make a case for the big leagues. Taylor made his. The first call he made upon hearing the news was to his wife, followed by a call to his parents. It’s likely he also paid a visit to the locker of Sox pitcher Rick Porcello, whom Taylor credits with helping to show him the way.
“Rick is very business-like and he goes about his day like a true professional,” Taylor said. “And seeing that work ethic . . . I talked to him, watched him.”
Taylor said he didn’t expect to make the team but that “all the pieces fell into place,” he said. “It’s always a hope, to make the big club. It’s a real honor to be here.
“I’ve been feeling really good this spring, all my pitches working, throwing the ball well. It’s paid off.”
No hard feelings
Though no baseball was played yesterday, Sandy Leon still viewed the trip to Nationals Park as a happy homecoming. The 28-yearold catcher was originally signed by the Nationals as a free agent in 2007 and made his major league debut for the team in 2012, appearing in 12 games.
Leon never did log much big league service time with the Nationals, appearing in 34 games spread out over three seasons before being acquired by the Red Sox at the end of spring training in 2015. But he has absolutely no bad feelings about the Nationals.
“No, they gave me my chance,” he said. “They gave me my MLB debut. So I’m very happy to be back here. I worked very hard to get to the big leagues but at the same time somebody has to pay attention. They paid attention.”
Arms on schedule
The rainout forced Sox pitchers Chris Sale and Matt Barnes into bullpen sessions in order to get in their work.
Sale was to throw a “four-inning simulated situation,” said Farrell, and Barnes was to go two innings. . . .
Mitch Moreland, one of several Sox players who is battling the flu, was able to take BP in Fort Myers and will return to the cage today before flying to Boston for Monday’s opener. . . .
Farrell didn’t seem too upset about the rainout.
“Given the length of the spring we’ve just come through and given some of the flu situations that have run through our clubhouse, (yesterday’s) rainout might be kind of welcome timing for us in particular with the physical stress we’ve been under for the better part of seven weeks,” said the manager. . . .
The Oakland A’s named Dennis Eckersley, the former Sox reliever who now serves as a NESN analyst, as a special assistant to team president Dave Kaval. The team said he will be an alumni ambassador who advises the club and appears at community events. . . .
Something you don’t see too often in a big league clubhouse: Players playing chase. The two opponents in the Sox clubhouse yesterday were catcher Dan Butler and right-hander Chandler Shepherd. ...
Shepherd and fellow righthanders Jamie Callahan and Austin Maddox were re-assigned to minor league camp. They will remain with the team through today’s exhibition game against the Nationals at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.
Amaro Sr. dead at 81
Ruben Amaro Sr., the father of Red Sox coach Ruben Amaro Jr., died yesterday at 81. The elder Amaro was a longtime member of the Phillies as player, coach, executive and scout. As shortstop of the 1964 Phillies, he was a Gold Glove winner. He also played three seasons with the Yankees and closed out his career with the Angels in 1969. . . .
Today will be a busy one for the Red Sox. The team will be guided on a private tour of the Navy campus prior to their game at Max Bishop Stadium. The gathering will be limited to Naval Academy midshipmen and invited members of the Navy.
Max Bishop Stadium is named for the longtime Navy coach and former major league second baseman. He played for the Red Sox in 1934 and ’35.