When the Red Sox open their 2020 season Friday night there will be 12 players on their roster who were not in the organization when the final game of 2019 was played. Not only that but for the average baseball fan New England many of the new names were unrecognizable when it came to identifying their existence in big-league baseball.
But here they are, all making up the 30-man roster that will be taking on the Orioles in the season opener.
To help you with the new guys we give you a primer for those pitchers you might not know so well, a group that is making up seven of the staff's 15 spots:
AUSTIN BRICE, RELIEF PITCHER
Brice his a hard-throwing right-hander who came to the Red Sox on Jan. 10 in a trade view raised an eyebrow about, getting dealt from Miami in exchange for minor-leaguer Angeudis Santos. A ninth-round pick by the Marlins, Brice has bounced around a bit in recent years after originally being traded from Miami to Cincinnati in 2017. He would ultimately land back with the Marlins after being claimed of waivers by the Angels, Orioles and finally Miami. He proved productive for the Marlins in 2019 during 36 relief appearances, totaling a 3.43 ERA. He is also the first Hong Kong-born player to appear in the major leagues.
DYLAN COVEY, PITCHER
The 14th overall pick in the 2010 pick (one spot after Chris Sale) was just acquired after opting out of his deal with Rays, who weren't going to put him on the Opening Day roster. Covey never did sign with the Brewers after being taken in the first round, asking for a $2 million signing bonus he was never offered. Instead, the pitcher -- who has been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes -- went on to pitch for the University of San Diego before being taken in the fourth round by the A's. He ended up with the White Sox in 2017, making the club after being taken as a Rule 5 pick. The 28-year-old struggled in 2019 with Chicago, making 12 starts (18 total appearances) and finishing with a 7.98 ERA.
MATT HALL, PITCHER
Hall was one of the stars of Spring Training 2.0, putting himself in a good position to be a major part of the Red Sox plans for their fourth or fifth spots in the rotation. The lefty, a former sixth-round pick by the Tigers, also came to the Red Sox in an under-the-radar January trade, being shipped from Detroit in exchange for minor-leaguer Jhon Nunez. Hall hasn't distinguished himself in his 28 major-league outings (all in relief), giving up 36 runs in 31 1/3 innings. But he does believe a corner has been turned thanks to some information and coaching received from the Red Sox during his time in the organization. Also of note, his sister served as a volunteer nurse in New York City during the heart of that city's COVID-19 troubles.
JOSH OSICH, RELIEF PITCHER
The lefty will go down in history as Chaim Bloom's first acquisition as Chief Baseball Officer of the Red Sox, having been claimed off waivers from the White Sox on Halloween day. Osich established himself as a legitimate weapon against lefty hitters during his 57 appearances with the White Sox in 2019, holding them to a .171 batting average. Born and raised in Idaho, he already has had Tommy John surgery early on in his collegiate career, going on to pitch a no-hitter against UCLA after the procedure.
MARTIN PEREZ, STARTING PITCHER
He is obviously one of the more familiar names among the newcomers in large part because of a $6.5 million contract and his existence at the No. 2 starter. He was so well thought of by his Rangers organization that the lefty garnered a four-year, $12.5 million extension with three club options at the age of 22 years old despite having made just 32 major league starts. Perez, who had Tommy John surgery in 2014, finished 2019 having totaled the highest WHIP in the majors while with the Twins. He did, however, dominate in his first eight starts last season, managing a 2.17 ERA while going 6-1.
JEFFREY SPRINGS, RELIEF PITCHER
Another Bloom trade, this one involving sending Sam Travis to Texas in exchange for Springs. The 27-year-old lefty was originally taken in the 30th round by the Rangers in the 2015 MLB Draft, getting a $1,000 signing bonus. While he did strike out nine in his six Grapefruit League innings this year, he also allowed three home runs. Springs made 25 appearances for the Rangers in 2019, all in relief, finishing with a 6.40 ERA. There is no doubt, Springs' bread and butter is his changeup. After that? We'll see. Also, Travis did not make the Rangers' Opening Day roster.
PHILLIPS VALDEZ, RELIEF PITCHER
