The Red Sox added some minor league pitching depth Monday, completing a trade with the Brewers from last month.
Boston acquired right-hander John Holobetz from Milwaukee to complete the April 7 swap that sent righty Quinn Priester to the Brewers. Boston acquired outfielder Yophery Rodriguez, a competitive balance draft pick (33rd overall in this year’s draft) and a player to be named later or cash for Priester. Holobetz is that player.
Holobetz, a Pennsylvania native, was Milwaukee’s fifth-round pick (156th overall) out of Old Dominion University last season. He signed for a $322,500 bonus, which was below slot. Holobetz didn’t make his professional debut until this year with Single-A Carolina. The righty has posted a 3.00 ERA (8 ER/34 IP) with 31 strikeouts and five walks while holding opponents to a .180 batting average (16-for-89). He was primarily a reliever in college at Radford, then ODU.
Priester has appeared in five games (four starts) with the Brewers since the trade, posting a 5.79 ERA in 23 ⅓ innings. He had a 1.93 ERA in his first three outings but has been tagged for 12 runs and 14 hits over his last 9 ⅓ frames.
