Workman back at scene of greatest success

HOUSTON -- When Brandon Workman said goodbye to his Red Sox teammates after a game at Camden Yards last Aug. 21, it was hard to imagine he would be back less than nine months later.

But baseball can be full of twists and turns. And Workman stepped right back into the visiting clubhouse Thursday for the finale of Boston's four-game series at Minute Maid Park against the Astros.

Workman’s comeback to his original team started on May 6, when Boston signed the struggling reliever to a Minor League contract a week after he had been designated for assignment by the Cubs.

After a strong stint with Triple-A Worcester, Workman informed the Sox on Tuesday that he would exercise the opt-out clause in his contract if the club didn’t promote him to the big league roster.

That’s exactly what Boston did on Thursday, adding Workman while optioning righty Colten Brewer to Worcester.

The Sox traded Workman to the Phillies for Nick Pivetta and Connor Seabold last Aug. 21, 10 days prior to the Trade Deadline.

Pivetta has been one of Boston’s best starting pitchers this season. Though Seabold has been bothered by arm issues of late and is on the injured list at Worcester, he is a prospect the club is high on.

So if Workman can make a strong comeback with Boston, Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom will come out of this whole scenario looking better than he does already.

It was just two years ago that Workman was at his very best, notching a 1.88 ERA in 73 games and turning into the closer midway through that ’19 season.

During his brief stint with Worcester, Workman had 10 strikeouts and a 1.29 ERA in seven innings over seven outings.

“The velocity, it’s always tricky with him, because even in the past when he was in Triple-A, the velocity was what it was. Then he’ll come here,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “Maury Wills used to say the 15 percent comes into play -- the lights and the fans, atmosphere comes into play. That helps certain players. I do believe velocity will be up. Breaking ball shape and spin has been solid. We know this guy.”

While closer Matt Barnes and setup man Adam Ottavino give the Sox a formidable 1-2 punch in the back of the bullpen, it is a group that needs more depth.

A revived Workman could be an important piece.

“One thing about his situation, it’s nothing new for him,” said Cora. “He’s always kind of had to battle for his spot at the Major League level. He’s had to battle for innings. I talked to him actually [Wednesday]. He knows it. He’s ready to pitch. We’ll find a spot for him, matchups that benefit him and us, and get him going.”

Hyers on hitters
After a rough patch in which the Sox scored a total of four runs in three straight losses to the Astros, hitting coach Tim Hyers shared some thoughts on what is ailing his hitters.

On leadoff man Kiké Hernández, who is in an 0-for-24 slump and wasn’t in the lineup Thursday:
“It's interesting with Kiké," Hyers said. "If you look, he battles his butt off to get to 2-2, like deep counts. He's got like 70 at-bats with 2-2 counts, and he's hitting about .270 [in them]. Then you get to 3-2 and the at-bat gets away from him. He's [got] a really high swing percentage.

“I think that's a credit to him wanting to do so well. He's wanting to make something happen. That's his aggressive nature, and that's the reason we like him. He's aggressive, he's relentless, he's going to give you everything he's got. What's hurt him lately is maybe chasing some pitches that he shouldn't, and he's missed some balls that have been in the strike zone that he should've hit. He's a guy I'll go to war with. He comes in every day and prepares.

“We've just got to stick to that process, we've just got to stick to what got him here at the beginning of the season and the end of Spring Training when he swung really well. I know he wants to get on base more. We've just got to find a way to make that happen.”

On star slugger Rafael Devers, who has surprisingly been getting burned by fastballs this season, taking a .171 average against heaters into Thursday’s game. Only five of his 14 homers this season have been on fastballs:
“It’s tough to be great at everything in this league. I also think he’s been late lately; it’s like he’s overswinging, and his timing is off. We worked on a few things [Wednesday], trying to get his hands in a better spot, his lower half underneath him.

“I think the stride length and his lower body got too aggressive, and I think that’s where the bat is dragging some, to be specific. But I’ll take what Devers is giving us as far as the overall contribution. Yes, we have to improve on the fastball because they’re throwing more of them to him right now, and they’re kind of catching up. And he’s crushing everything else, and the fastball is his weakness right now.”

On shortstop Xander Bogaerts, who started the day in an 0-for-21 slump, his most at-bats without a hit since his rookie season of 2014:
“He’s got to hit the ball up in the zone better now, more often. That’s where his strengths are at. He’s chasing the breaking ball, he’s chasing some offspeed at the bottom of the zone. He knows he’s probably being a little too aggressive and trying to help kick-start this offense, and he’s been paying the price lately with some chase. But knowing Bogey, he’ll get back on it and get back to the heater up in the zone and not miss those.”