It’s official: The new-look Red Sox are no longer a figment of the imagination.
After designating shortstop Julio Lugo for assignment, Boston recalled right-handed pitcher Clay Buchholz from Triple-A Pawtucket and activated third baseman Mike Lowell from the 15-day disabled list.
First baseman Aaron Bates was optioned back to Pawtucket to make room on the roster.
Twenty-four-year-old Buchholz will make his first start of 2009 on Friday night in Toronto. It will be his first appearance in the majors in almost a year; he last pitched on Aug. 20, 2008 at Baltimore. Last year’s campaign was rough, to say the least — he went 2-9 with a 6.75 ERA — but he has experienced a complete turnaround since then. Not only did he earn International League All-Star honors after going 7-2 with a second-best 2.36 ERA, but he has allowed two earned runs or less in 13 of his 17 appearances, and he tops all IL starters with a .191 opponent batting average.
Lowell has been inactive since June 28 after straining his hip. So far in 2009, he is hitting .282 with 10 homers and 41 RBIs in 68 games. The problem likely stemmed from offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum.
After a little over two years with Boston, Lugo’s career ended in disappointment. He was signed as a free agent in December 2006, but he failed to be the offensive threat Theo Epstein expected, batting just .251 with 10 homers and 103 RBIs in 266 games.
