Life as a minor league pitcher can be unpredictable and challenging. One day you’re playing on one side of the country, and the next, you’re removed from the roster due to a blockbuster trade and shipped across the nation.
That’s what happened to left-handed reliever Zach Penrod, who was traded by the Boston Red Sox to the Los Angeles Dodgers, per Chris Cotillo of MassLive. Penrod had been rehabbing an elbow injury with Triple-A Worcester and had yet to appear in a major league game this season.
Penrod made his MLB debut in 2024 and was effective in a limited role, allowing just one run over four innings in seven outings. Though his big-league experience is limited, his high-velocity arm from the left side is an asset most teams would welcome. While the Dodgers will need to work on refining his control, the raw tools are there.
L.A. has a track record of developing bullpen arms, as shown with former Red Sox reliever Ryan Brasier, who played a key role in the Dodgers’ 2024 World Series run after being acquired.
Penrod had fallen behind other lefty relievers like Brennan Bernardino and Justin Wilson on Boston’s depth chart, with Chris Murphy and Jovani Moran both close to returning from injuries. Ultimately, Penrod was squeezed off the 40-man roster to make room for Jordan Hicks and Kyle Harrison.
The return Boston received for Penrod remains unknown, though it’s expected to be minimal given he might have been lost on waivers had he not been dealt.
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