Red Sox activate Connor Wong, option struggling right-hander to Triple-A
Red Sox catcher Connor Wong has been activated from the paternity leave list and will re-join the cub for this weekend’s series against the San Diego Padres. To clear space on the active roster the Red Sox optioned catcher Tyler Heineman to Triple-A while also sending down another struggling right-hander.
Isaiah Campbell, who gave up a towering three-run home run in just 0.1 innings of work on Monday night, was also optioned to Triple-A. With the Red Sox off on Thursday the club will add another pitcher Friday ahead of the Padres series.
Campbell was the first outside acquisition made by Craig Breslow following his hire last fall, coming over from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for infielder Luis Urias. One of two players in MLB history born in Portugal, Campbell was coming off a strong rookie season and enjoyed a dominant spring training, but since the season began he’s struggled with injuries and inconsistency.
After allowing one run over his first five appearances with the Red Sox, Campbell got shelled on back-to-back nights by the Baltimore Orioles, allowing a combined eight earned runs over two innings. He was subsequently placed on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder impingement, and following his activation on June 6 he was optioned to Triple-A.
Campbell has been highly effective in Triple-A, and between his rehab outings and since coming off the IL he’s posted a 2.19 ERA with 18 strikeouts over 12.1 innings. He was called back up to the majors on Monday as part of a larger staff shakeup, but his first game back was a disaster. Campbell allowed three hits, including Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s 471-foot moonshot, while recording only one out in what would up being a five-run seventh inning for the Blue Jays.
That pushed Campbell’s ERA on the season to 16.20 over eight MLB games, and for now the 26-year-old will once again work to get himself right in the minors.