How Former Standout Pitcher Fared In Red Sox Organizational Debut

Boston may have a diamond in the rough on their hands

After signing with the organization Monday, a veteran arm started for the Worcester Red Sox just two days later -- and impressed. 

Kyle Barraclough took the mound against the Philadelphia Phillies Triple-A affiliate Lehigh Valley IronPigs. The righty tossed six scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, four walks, and a pair of strikeouts.

Prior to being picked up by the club, Barraclough spent this year playing for High Point in the Atlantic League, where he's been used as a starter. 

Barraclough posted a 1.00 ERA for High Point this season, with a 17-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and a 0.89 WHIP in seven games across 18 innings pitched.

Interestingly, the Red Sox appear to be continuing to use Barraclough as a starter despite all 288 appearances in his major league career coming out of the bullpen. It remains to be seen if Boston will try to use Barraclough as a starter at the big league level or if they're keeping him stretched out for a multi-inning reliever role -- similar to how they've used Garrett Whitlock, Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford and Chris Murphy.

The 33-year-old has a career 3.61 ERA with a 346-to-167 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .208 batting average against, and a 1.36 WHIP in 274 1/3 innings pitched across 288 games in the big leagues.

If he continues to pitch the way he did Wednesday night, he'll be challenging a back-end reliever for a spot on the Red Sox's roster in the near future. Until then, he'll be a name to watch down in Triple-A Worcester.

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