Red Sox bring back injured reliever on minor league deal
The Red Sox have brought back right-hander Wyatt Mills on a minor league deal, according to the team’s transaction log.
Mills, who did not pitch last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, became a free agent earlier this month after being non-tendered by the Red Sox but will be back with the organization anyway as he continues his recovery.
Originally acquired last offseason from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for pitching prospect and former Methuen High standout Jacob Wallace, Mills was one of Boston’s best pitchers early in spring training before he was shut down due to elbow trouble. The 28-year-old right-hander posted a 1.80 ERA with 10 strikeouts in five innings over his first four Grapefruit League appearances, but on March 13 he gave up four runs in an ugly inning against Toronto and did not pitch again the rest of the season.
Mills eventually had his surgery on July 5 and likely won’t return to the mound until sometime in the second half.
Prior to his arrival in Boston, Mills made 38 career MLB appearances for the Seattle Mariners and Royals between 2021-22, posting a 6.21 ERA with 37 strikeouts over 42 innings. Mills originally starred at Gonzaga University and was drafted by Seattle in the third round of the 2017 MLB Draft.
Wallace, who starred at UConn after his decorated high school career at Methuen High, spent last season with the Royals’ Double-A affiliate after being traded for Mills and posted a 4.20 ERA with 57 strikeouts and 40 walks over 49.1 innings with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals.