The Red Sox have re-signed a host of minor-league free agents, with the Boston Globe’s Alex Speier reporting that left-hander Dan McGrath; right-handers Austin Maddox, Domingo Tapia, and Andrew Schwaab; catcher Jhon Nunez; and infielder Jantzen Witte have all agreed to minor-league contracts to remain with the Boston organization.
Maddox is the only one of that group who has seen Major League action, making a brief but impressive debut in 2017. He tossed 17 1/3 innings in his only career Major League stint, surrendering just one run while striking out 14 batters and walking two.
McGrath, 25, reached Triple-A in 2019 after a solid performance at Double-A, where he struck out 113 batters in 112 1/3 innings. 2019 was Tapia’s first year in the Boston organization after he spent the first nine seasons of his professional career in the Mets’ and Reds’ minor league systems. Schwaab, 26, has five years of professional experience under his belt and has reached as high as Double-A. For his minor league career, he’s put up solid per-nine averages: 0.1 HR/9, 3.9 BB/9, and 9.7 K/9.
Nunez, a 24-year-old switch-hitting catcher, also reached Double-A in 2019 and posted a nice .280/.333/.412 batting line. Witte was a 24th-round draft choice in 2013, and he’s spent parts of the last four seasons in Triple-A but has yet to break through to the Majors. In 1227 Triple-A plate appearances, Witte is batting .261/.333/.370 with 15 home runs.
All of the above will be back in the Red Sox system in 2020, searching for a long-awaited trial at the big league level.
Why didn’t Maddox pitch last year?
Rotator cuff surgery.
Serious arm issues last 2 seasons. Believe it started out as elbow originally, then ended up as rotator cuff surgery in the end. Don’t think he was at Ft Myers throwing in the inter squad games competitively either. Could be awhile before he’s back which is a shame. Relieving seemed to be his “game” after originally brought up as a starter in the system
Wonder why the article doesn’t mention that, even in summary form. Otherwise you’re clearly just left hanging wondering “what happened after he had those great 17 innings???”
Wow a pitcher who doesn’t give up many runs in the minors and didn’t get a chance in the majors. Stinkies made due of whatever they had and still had 103 season Sox didn’t explore what they had and didn’t win 90 games. Tells me Cora is all about about NOT going outside the circle. Not a good sign Let’s see what next year brings.
Nice to see reliever Schwaab re-signed, but more important to get the other Rule 5 reliever who was acquired with him, Anyelo Gomez. I hope he’s coming back.
Remember that show Stump The Schwabb?
I remember how Schwabby used to throw a tantrum when he got an answer wrong.