Worcester Red Sox feature some new faces as they return to Polar Park for six-game series
WORCESTER — After a trip to Toledo last week, the Worcester Red Sox return home to Polar Park on Tuesday to open a six-game homestand with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
Out in Ohio, the WooSox went 2-4 against the Mud Hens to move to 11-15 on the season.
Now back in the Canal District, the WooSox will hand the ball to 6-foot-3 righty Richard Fitts — who is scheduled to be the starting pitcher on Tuesday — to get the Triple-A team back on track.
“Big, tall, strong dude. Really good changeup. The velocity is there, typically command is good,” WooSox manager Chad Tracy recently said of Fitts. “He’s in the zone, working on a slider, trying to improve that slider as his secondary, but he’s got a couple offerings already that are plus plus, and he usually lives in the strike zone.
“So with the frame of him and the things he’s working on, we got a good one so I’m looking forward to watch him throw.”
To begin their third homestand of the season, the WooSox will feature some new faces.
Catcher Elih Marrero, who was on the development list all season, homered for the WooSox on Thursday. Marrero joins infielder Karson Simas, who had two hits all season in Class-A but had two hits Thursday for Worcester, and relief pitcher Brendan Cellucci, who made his Triple-A debut Saturday and tossed three relief innings, allowing one earned run on two hits, in Worcester this week.
Sal Romano, who signed a minor league deal with the Red Sox Thursday, made his organizational debut on Saturday. The right-hander allowed one run in an inning of work.
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And after the Red Sox recalled right-handed pitcher Naoyuki Uwasawa from Worcester Sunday, the organization transferred right-handed pitcher Robert Kwiatkowski from Double-A Portland to Worcester. Kwiatkowski pitched 2 2/3 innings in his Triple-A debut on Sunday allowing one hit and one walk with three strikeouts.
Lehigh Valley, on the other hand, brings infielder/outfielder Kody Clemens, son of former Red Sox pitcher Roger Clemens, to town. Kody Clemens is hitting .253 with three home runs and 14 RBIs for the IronPigs.
Here is the schedule for the upcoming homestand at Polar Park:
Tuesday (6:05 p.m.)
Park for FREE at one of three city Lots: 25 Madison St. (across from Coney Island), McGrath Lot (next to the Worcester Public Library), or Union Station Garage; Taco & Tequila Tuesday; WooSox play as Los Wepas de Worcester, presented by La Mega Radio as team honors South America including Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
Wednesday (12:15 p.m.)
First Responders Wednesday, School Field Trip Day; Player Autograph Wednesday as two WooSox players will sign autographs for fans after the game.
Thursday (6:05 p.m.)
Mental Wellness Night; Throwback Thursday with former Red Sox reliever John Trautwein who will meet fans and sign autographs in the Sherwood’s Diner between the third and sixth inning
Friday (6:05 p.m.)
Deaf & Hard of Hearing Awareness Night as WooSox will wear special caps and uniforms in tribute to the deaf and hard of hearing; UniBank Fireworks set to the music of Hollywood’s Greatest Hits.
Saturday (4:05 p.m.)
Star Wars Day — May the fourth be with you; Boylston Town Takeover; Sunset Catch on the Field after the game.
Sunday (1:05 p.m.)
WooSox play as Los Wepas de Worcester, presented by La Mega Radio as team honors Mexico and Spain on Cinco de Mayo (see special ticket offer for access to a buffet on the Hanover Deck); Kids Run the Bases presented by Fallon Health.
—Contact Tommy Cassell at tcassell@telegram.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tommycassell44.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester Red Sox host Lehigh Valley IronPigs for series at Polar Park
