Red Sox announce roster moves
BOSTON, MA—The Boston Red Sox today made the following roster moves:
- Left-handed pitchers Chris Murphy and Brandon Walter were selected to the Major League roster from Triple-A Worcester.
- Infielder/outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela, outfielder Wilyer Abreu, and infielder David Hamilton were selected to the Major League roster from Double-A Portland.
- Right-handed pitcher Jake Reed and catcher Caleb Hamilton were designated for assignment.
Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom made the announcement.
Boston’s 40-man roster is now at 40.
Murphy, 24, is ranked by Baseball America as the Red Sox’ No. 8 prospect and No. 3 pitching prospect. The left-hander was named Portland’s Pitcher of the Year for 2022, posting a 2.58 ERA (22 ER/76.2 IP) in 15 outings (13 starts) for the Sea Dogs before he was promoted to Worcester on June 28. He also made 15 starts for the WooSox, going 3-6 with a 5.50 ERA (46 ER/75.1 IP). The California native was selected by the Red Sox in the sixth round of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of San Diego.
Walter, 26, is ranked among the Red Sox’ top 10 prospects by both Baseball America (No. 9) and MLB.com (No. 7). The left-hander made 11 starts between Portland (9) and Worcester (2) in 2022, posting a 3.59 ERA (23 ER/57.2 IP), 0.90 WHIP, and 11.71 strikeouts per 9.0 innings, as he struck out 75 batters and walked only seven. A Delaware native, Walter was selected by Boston in the 26th round of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Delaware.
Rafaela, 22, is ranked among the Red Sox’ top five prospects by both Baseball America (No. 4) and MLB.com (No. 3). Named 2022 Red Sox Minor League Player of the Year by _Baseball America_, the right-handed hitter batted .299 with an .880 OPS, 32 doubles, 10 triples, 21 home runs, and 28 stolen bases in 116 games between High-A Greenville (45 games) and Portland (71). Rafaela started 91 games in center field, 20 at shortstop, three at designated hitter, and one at second base, earning his second consecutive Red Sox Minor League Defensive Player of the Year award from the organization. The Curacao native was signed by Boston as an international free agent on July 2, 2017.
Abreu, 23, is ranked by Baseball America as the Red Sox’ No. 22 prospect. The left-handed hitter batted .247 (113-for-457) with 106 runs scored, 29 doubles, 19 home runs, and 31 stolen bases in 129 Double-A games between Corpus Christi (89 games) and Portland (40) in 2022, starting 56 games in center field, 38 in left field, and 26 in right field. A native of Maracaibo, Venezuela, he was acquired from the Houston Astros on August 1 along with Enmanuel Valdez in exchange for catcher Christian Vázquez.
David Hamilton, 25, was named the 2022 Red Sox Minor League Baserunner of the Year after leading Double-A and setting a new franchise record for Portland with 70 stolen bases in 78 attempts. The left-handed hitter batted .251 (116-for-463) with 16 doubles, nine triples, and 12 home runs in 119 games with the Sea Dogs. A native of San Marcos, Texas, Hamilton was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers along with outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. and minor league infielder Alex Binelas in exchange for outfielder Hunter Renfroe in December 2021.
Reed, 30, was claimed off waivers by Boston from the Baltimore Orioles on October 13. The right-hander made 18 relief appearances for the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Baltimore during 2022, posting a 7.02 ERA (13 ER/16.2 IP). He also recorded a 3.09 ERA (8 ER/23.1 IP) in 20 minor league outings (one start) with 26 strikeouts, eight walks, and only one home run allowed.
Caleb Hamilton, 27, was claimed off waivers by Boston from the Minnesota Twins on October 11. He made his Major League debut with Minnesota in 2022, playing in 22 games while making three starts at catcher and one at first base. The right-handed hitter spent the majority of this season with Triple-A St. Paul, batting .233 (48-for-206) with 10 doubles, 11 home runs, and 43 RBI in 62 games.
BOSTON RED SOX 40-MAN ROSTER (40)
Pitchers (20): Matt Barnes, Brayan Bello, Ryan Brasier, Kutter Crawford, Franklin German, Darwinzon Hernandez, Tanner Houck, Zack Kelly, Bryan Mata, Chris Murphy, Kaleb Ort, James Paxton, Nick Pivetta, Chris Sale, John Schreiber, Connor Seabold, Josh Taylor, Brandon Walter, Garrett Whitlock, Josh Winckowski
Catchers (3): Ronaldo Hernández, Reese McGuire, Connor Wong
Infielders (8): Triston Casas, Yu Chang, Bobby Dalbec, Rafael Devers, Jeter Downs, David Hamilton, Eric Hosmer, Trevor Story
Outfielders (5): Wilyer Abreu, Franchy Cordero, Jarren Duran, Rob Refsnyder, Alex Verdugo
Infielder/Outfielders (4): Christian Arroyo, Kiké Hernández, Ceddanne Rafaela, Enmanuel Valdez