Red Sox Select First Baseman Sam Travis from Triple-A Pawtucket

Prior to tonight's game against the Texas Rangers, the Boston Red Sox selected first baseman Sam Travis to the active major league roster from Triple-A Pawtucket. To make room on the 25-man roster, the club optioned right-handed pitcher Hector Velázquez to Pawtucket.
President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski made the announcement.
Travis, who will wear number 59, is making his first appearance on a major league roster. The 23-year-old went 5-for-36 (.139) in his first 10 games of the 2017 season for the PawSox, but in 23 games since April 22 he has hit .344 (31-for-90) with a .909 OPS, six doubles, three home runs, and eight walks against only 10 strikeouts. Travis has batted .358 (93-for-260) against left-handed pitchers in his professional career, including .414 (12-for-29) with two home runs this season. Selected by Boston in the second round of the 2014 June Draft, the right-handed hitter was named the Red Sox' Minor League Offensive Player of the Year in 2015. He missed a majority of the 2016 campaign, suffering a season-ending knee injury on May 29. In 278 minor league games, Travis has hit .301 (319-for-1,060) with 26 home runs, 27 stolen bases, and an .815 OPS, playing no defensive position other than first base.
Velázquez, 28, made his major league debut with a start on May 18 at Oakland, allowing six earned runs over five innings and suffering the loss. In five starts with the PawSox this season, he is 2-1 with a 1.55 ERA (5 ER/29.0 IP). He threw 21.1 consecutive scoreless innings over a span of four Triple-A starts, notably tossing 6.0 perfect innings on April 30 against Gwinnett. The Red Sox purchased his contract from the Piratas de Campeche of the Mexican League on February 18, 2017. In seven seasons with Campeche (2010-15) and Monclova (2016), the right-hander went 43-29 with a 3.76 ERA (287 ER/687.1 IP) in 136 appearances (120 starts). He also pitched in the Mexican Pacific Winter League following each of those seven seasons, posting a 4.07 ERA (189 ER/417.2 IP) in 101 games (75 starts) for Obregon (2010-11) and Navojoa (2012-16).