James Paxton's likely season-ending calf injury and the bullpen's recent issues have tainted the Boston Red Sox's trade deadline performance.
But even before Paxton's ailment and Luis Garcia and Lucas Sims' downturns, the biggest move of the Red Sox's deadline was the deal for former first-round pick, Quinn Priester.
Boston shipped top second base prospect Nick Yorke to Pittsburgh for the right-hander and he's served the WooSox well so far. Priester got off to a rough start in his Red Sox career, but he's since righted the ship.
The 23-year-old made his first start for Worcester on Aug. 4, and it only lasted 2.1 innings. He allowed eight runs on six hits with four walks and four strikeouts. It was far from a great first outing, but the Sox traded for Priester with the knowledge that he still has work to do.
Priester's next outing lasted four innings and he kept the damage on the scoreboard to a minimum. he let up three runs on four hits, one was a homer, and collected four strikeouts and a walk. His third start was far and away the best of his short Red Sox tenure — he clocked five, two-hit, shutout innings against the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs with a strikeout and no walks.
Priester's latest appearance came on Aug. 22, and the Norfolk Tides got to him for three runs on five hits. However, the righty tossed five strikeouts, and 46 of his 80 pitches on the day were for strikes. He generated 15 swing and misses.
While his stats with the WooSox aren't outstanding — Priester has posted a 7.88 ERA in his four games — the young hurler has shown improvement in one way or another in each of his outings. Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow is known to have an eye for pitching talent, and if Priester continues his positive trend, he could be another feather in Breslow's cap by the time he reaches the big leagues.
