The Red Sox announced Friday morning that they’ve designated right-hander Chandler Shepherd for assignment in order to open a spot on the 40-man roster for catcher Oscar Hernandez, whose contract has been selected from Triple-A Pawtucket. Hernandez will join the active roster in place of catcher Sandy Leon as he departs for paternity leave.
Shepherd, 26, has struggled through a brutal start to his 2019 campaign, pitching to a 10.01 ERA through 29 2/3 inning of Triple-A ball. He’s yielded a staggering 53 hits in that time, including 11 home runs, issued 16 walks and also been tagged for another 10 unearned runs. Shepherd, to his credit, has punched out 30 hitters in those 29 2/3 innings and did turn in a solid 2018 season in Pawtucket when he logged a 3.89 ERA in 129 2/3 innings. Despite this season’s alarming home run woes, he allowed just 13 long balls in 2018.
The 25-year-old Hernandez was the top pick in the Rule 5 Draft back in 2014 but saw only minimal time with the D-backs over the next two seasons and hit .167/.239/.262 in a tiny sample of 47 plate appearances in the big leagues. The defensive-minded backstop has thwarted 43 percent of stolen base attempts against him in his minor league career and has consistently drawn above-average framing marks, but he’s just a .190/.2440/.344 hitter in 431 plate appearances at the Double-A level and a .203/.282/.284 hitter in 225 plate appearances at Triple-A. Lack of production in the upper minors notwithstanding, Boston needs a backup catcher with Leon away from the club for a few days, so Hernandez will return to a big league roster for the first time since 2016.
So no one told him life was gonna be this way, huh?
Well done. “Chandler Sheppard” sounds like someone who grew up in the Hamptons, had his parents buy his way into Harvard, did a bunch of coke in college, and dropped out so he could play golf and chase women all day.
That’s a lot of inference!
Could he beeee…any more disappointed?
Nice!
Can Michael Chavis play catcher?
No but maybe Rich Gedman can come back. The laziest catcher I ever saw not named Sanchez. Still bothers me that Stanley was charged a wild pitch in re 86 WS. Gedman simply didn’t move. I know since the team has now won, I should get over it …
Pssst Bucky Dent
If u knew anything about Rich Gedman you’d have never made that comment.
Please elaborate. I went on Wiki and saw he holds clinics today but that doesn’t change my memories of him behind the dish.
I 100% agree. While not talked with him personally in bit over 40y.. Can say I knew both him and his 3 room mates pretty well at Winter Haven in 1978 and that was one hard working and really nice kid who took life and the game seriously.
Then if it wasn’t effort, it must have been talent. After a promising career start, his bat just went and as it declined so did his defense. That’s who Ii remember.
The thing about Shepherd is that he just couldn’t get by only on shear talent. He couldn’t pull the wool over our eyes, we could tell he wasn’t very good. Fans weren’t exactly flocking to see him pitch either.
Who???
I’ll never understand these comments. It’s not original or funny and it shows you are just a fair weather fan who knows nothing about baseball. Move along
Gedman lazy??? What are you talking about? Incredible player and someone that deserves nothing but respect! I couldn’t disagree more!
It was painful to watch Geddy hit. He swung down on the ball and he learned it from Walt Hriack. He was a solid hitter before that.
I’m laughing at how we all remember differently. I saw Geddy had 14 passed balls in 86. Perhaps as his bat declined, he lost focus defensively. I just remember there were wild pitches that in my view should have been stopped. Add in the 14 Wks that year and perhaps others can understand my view. In truth, his overall career probably wasn’t as bad as some recall nor as good as others believe. Lastly, a player should be proud of ANY big league career. So in that regard my original comment might have been a little too strong. I and the rest of us Sox fans in our late 50s did a lot of suffering that was NOT Bill Buckner’s fault. The way he hit in August and September with bad ankles, he was the main bat reason why they even made it to the playoffs.
*PB (passes balls)
Gedman was known to be .a hard working, blue collar player.