The Red Sox are selecting the contract of utility player Rob Refsnyder, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive. A corresponding move will be required in order to create a spot on the 40-man roster for him. Additionally, the club announced it has reinstated right-hander Hansel Robles from the IL and optioned fellow righty Phillips Valdez in a corresponding move.
Signed to a minor league deal in the offseason, Refsnyder joined the big league club earlier this year but was designated as a Covid substitute and therefore was able to be removed from the roster without being exposed to waivers. He got into three games in April before being returned to the minors. He’s having a monster season in Triple-A through 42 games on the season, with a batting line of .306/.429/.524. That amounts to a wRC+ of 156, or 56% better than the league average hitter.
If Refsnyder, 31, can carry anything resembling that type of production to the big leagues, it would be a tremendous boon to the team and his own career numbers. In 235 MLB games to this point, he’s hit .226/.312/.312 for a wRC+ of 72. However, even if he doesn’t hit at an elite level, he’ll at least provide the team with some positional versatility. He’s spent time at first, second and third base as well as all three outfield positions in his career, though he’s only played in the outfield for Worcester this year.
The club hasn’t gotten much offensive production out of its outfield this year. Franchy Cordero, Alex Verdugo, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Christian Arroyo each have a wRC+ between 55 and 95 on the year, indicating that they’ve all been hitting at below-average rates on the season. Enrique Hernandez, recently placed on the IL, also fits this bill with a wRC+ of 73 on the year.
As for Robles, he was dealing with back spasms and last pitched on May 22. He was off to a good start to the year before hitting the IL, throwing 17 innings with a 2.65 ERA. Their might have been some good fortune in there, however, as his 16.2% strikeout rate was well below his career rate of 25.3% and his .188 BABIP was nowhere near his .279 career number.
The Ref is back baby!!
The Sox are quietly building the ‘17 Yankees. They brought up future HoFer Ref and will likely trade for Robertson…
Of all the Yankees teams to duplicate…
YESS!!!
I was just thinking “What happened with him?”
Good luck, Rob Refsnyder! Unless, u play the Yanks ofc!
Refsnyder with a spectacular game saving catch today!
One of the best I’ve ever seen. I thought he had no chance whatsoever. I always say, there are usually 3 components to a winning streak.
1-A weak schedule.
2-A few one-run victories.
3-A different guy every night, making a difference.
Former Yankee.
Also former Blue Jay, Ray, Red, Dback,Ranger, and Twin too.!
Take that Jays and Gabriel Moreno!
.400 batting average 😉 can’t blame them for making a spot.
He’s 2-for-5, with those hits, extra-base-hit doubles’.
A walk and zero strikeouts. Good luck, kid! (yes, even 31)
Moving Matt Barnes to the 60 day-IL with a bad case of the sucks (or monkey pox).
Why’s it got to be “monkey” pox? Racist.
That’s specieist you tard.
He would probably make more $ if he went to KBO or Japan
Yeah, but the travel time and gas back and forth would be a killer!
World Series champs!!!!
With future HoF Refsnyder, the sky is the limit. The Yankees better sign Swihart to keep pace !
Maybe they could trade Frazier and Andujar for him??
If this is baseball, shouldn’t his name be Umpsnyder?
Home run, Chipperson!!
Well played, sir.
I still believe Rob Refsnyder is the most cool-sounding name in baseball now. Anyone want to challenge?
In MLB, or all pro baseball? Rocker’s indy leauge team has a guy named Adam Hofacket. That’s pretty freaking good imo.
A dozen years ago we wouldn’t be having this debate, thanks to Red Sox pitcher Boof Bonser.
Nah. Rusty Kuntz
Oh please don’t make fun of my Grandma.
Joe Smith
Richard Lovelady
J.D. Hammer
Skye Bolt is always a classic
Steele Walker is pretty good
Asher Wojciechowski…
Oh, wait, I don’t think I’m playing this game correctly.
My vote goes to Skye Bolt
Anyone want to challenge?
==================================
How about a relief pitcher whose name is Ball Four?
Guys, I thought I said “cool-sounding” not “funny-sounding”. (No offence, Lovelady)
Carter KieBOOM
Urban Shocker, 58.6 career bWAR
Cue all the crude Refsnyder comments by the “experts”.
None yet
One step closer to the HOF!
Dude is already a lock, only question is what hat he will wear
Refsnyder will be inducted into the HOF along with Blake Swihart
The Red Sox do not seem to be high on Jarren Duran.
The Red Sox have to start both Verdugo and JBJ against lefties with Kike out. Duran is a lefty.
They can’t recall him for a few more days.
Average – So you’re saying if Red Sox management remembered Duran, he would have been promoted by now?
FPG-LOL! I had to read that three times before I got it.
Joe – Happy Friday!
Duran? No Mas.
I kind of agree on Duran, but in this case, it might also be that they want a righty to replace a righty.
The legend returns
I’m not sure that they called up Refsnyder. It appears that the called up Jonathan Arauz instead because Bogaerts got a little banged up last night. Arauz is playing SS tonight.
Arauz is up tonight because the infield had a lot of scheduled rest days. I suspect that Arauz is DFA’d after the game to make room.
They called up Refsnyder but the bullpen thought Tony Larussa wanted Lance Lynn.
8 teams in 6 years. True grit
Tingley – Ref has nothing on Edwin Jackson.
2006 – Dodgers, Rays
2008 – Tigers
2009 – DBacks
2010 – White Sox
2011 – Jays, Cardinals
2012 – Nats
2013 – Cubs
2015 – Braves
2016 – Marlins, Padres
2017 – Orioles, Nats
2018 – Athletics
2019 – Tigers
2020 – DBacks
14 different franchises in 15 years
Including 12 different franchises over the last decade of his career.
Talk about always keeping your bags packed!
Can you do Oliver Perez next! 2022: Still active (!)
Oliver Perez:
2003 – Padres, Pirates
2006 – Mets
2011 – Nats
2012 – Mariners
2014 – DBacks
2015 – Astros, Nats
2018 – Reds, Yankees, Indians
2022 – DBacks
Just 10 different franchises, but three in one year is kinda impressive.
In the offseason, he moonlights officiating football games under the moniker Ref Robsnyder.
Those are nice enough minor league numbers but has he drawn any Rave Reviews?
That Mookie Betts trade. Ooph
The GOAT RETURNS! Rob Refsnyder for HOF!
UbekeiveBle
Checking to see if the Yankees have recalled Blake Swihart
The Sox really should claim Clint Frazier he was DFA’d earlier today.. He’s still young enough & talented enough to still come in to his own as a former 1st rounder.. He has the tools to do so…