Red Sox DFA Struggling Hurler, Promote Reliever After Long-Term Injury

The Red Sox will get a reliever back after going roughly five months without him

The Boston Red Sox announced a slew of roster updates on Sunday, including a decision to designate a hurler for assignment just a few months after acquiring him. 

Zack Kelly was activated from the 60-day injured list. Nick Robertson was optioned to Triple-A Worcester and Kyle Barraclough was designated for assignment, per the team's transaction log.

Kelly sustained the injury that landed him on the injured list in April of this year and had an ulnar nerve transposition revision surgery in May. Many expected the right-hander to be out for the season when the injury occurred but he has battled back and will get a chance to pitch once again in 2023.

Barraclough signed with the Red Sox in June out of independent ball and was able to complete his Major League Baseball comeback journey after dominating for the WooSox but unraveled when called up to Boston. 

Barraclough had a 3.65 ERA with a 62-to-45 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a 1.31 WHIP in 74 innings pitched across 14 games for the Worcester Red Sox. The right-handed pitcher's time in the Red Sox organization started to run out after a rough outing against the Houston Astros, where he let up 10 runs in 4 1/3 innings.

As for Robertson, he'll be back in Worcester where he's spent the majority of his season since he was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Enrique Hernández trade in July. 

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