The Boston Red Sox signed Tommy Kahnle in the offseason, and his contract has an upward mobility clause.
The upward mobility clause allows a big league team to sign Kahnle to their major league roster on May 1 if the Red Sox do not do so. If he is not in the big leagues by June 1, he has an opt-out. Kahnle signed on March 19 and made two spring training appearances. He allowed two earned runs in two innings of work.
He made his first official appearance of the year in Triple-A on Tuesday. He allowed one unearned run, two hits and issued one walk in one inning of work. He also had a strikeout.
He spent last season with the Detroit Tigers, making 66 appearances. The 36-year-old right-hander has played on five different teams in the big leagues and is hoping to make the Red Sox the latest club he contributes to in the big leagues. He is hoping that increasing his fastball usage again can help him do that.
“Last year I really liked my fastball. I just didn’t throw it, at all,” Kahnle told MassLive’s Matt Vautour. “I don’t know if it was pitch clock, the catcher, me. There were lots of variables.”
“Guys are really starting to wait for the changeup to be up. I just want to be able to use the fastball more,” Kahnle added. “I think it helps my changeup get back on track. Mix in some more sliders too.”
He has plenty of big league experience and pitched in the World Baseball Classic as well. If he can prove he’s ready to go in Triple-A, the Red Sox may be forced to add him to the big league roster by May 1. If not, another team may jump on the opportunity to add a veteran righty to the bullpen.
“I’m focused on using my whole arsenal. I’m just trying to get away from my heavy changeup usage,” Kahnle said. “Sometimes you have to go with it because that’s my bread and butter. Just trying to feed off the hitters, read their swings.”
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