Jake Bennett is earning his second start on Thursday night for the Boston Red Sox as they take on the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park on national television.
The 25-year-old lefty has started just one other Major League Baseball game. He made his debut on May 1 and led the Red Sox to a 3-1 victory over the Houston Astros.
He threw five innings in his debut, surrendering five hits and walking three batters while allowing just one run.
The six-foot-six pitcher from Tulsa, OK, was traded to Boston in December of last year. He was a part of a deal that sent former Red Sox draft pick Luis Perales to the Washington Nationals.
Bennett was absolutely torching Triple-A competition in Worcester. He made five starts and posted just a 0.86 ERA, earning a pair of wins. He allowed just two earned runs and struck out 16 batters.
Bennett had a good spring but was buried in the Red Sox’s loaded rotation. The injury bug bit early this year, and Boston was fortunate to have such a loaded farm system, as they have already had to call on guys like Bennett and Payton Tolle to replace the injured Sonny Gray and Garrett Crochet.
With Gray set to return from the IL this weekend, it is unclear how long Bennett’s tenure in Boston will last. But fans hope it will be more of the same in his second major league start.
