Pedro Martinez ‘Really Impressed’ With Red Sox’s Pitching Prospects

The Boston Red Sox offense that won the 2013 World Series has been quiet this season. Boston has scored just 301 runs in 79 games, good for third-worst in the American League.

But one promising part of a less-than-promising season so far has been the Red Sox pitching staff.

And according to Pedro Martinez, that staff could be even better next year.

The former Red Sox pitcher spoke on WEEI’s “Middays With MFB” on Thursday afternoon, praising Rubby De La Rosa among other young hurlers in Boston’s minor league system.

“(De La Rosa’s) done a hell of a job trying to improve,” Martinez said. “He gained a lot of weight while he was recuperating from surgery. It was hard for him. He had to drop a little bit of weight and get in better shape, and now it seems like he’€™s putting it all together.”

Martinez, now a special assistant to Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington, also spoke of Henry Owens and the staff at Portland, saying Boston’s plethora of pitching promise stretches beyond Double-A.

“(Owens) is growing before our eyes, that’€™s what I see,” Martinez said. “Henry Owens … that big donkey is throwing the ball well, he’€™s throwing really hard. Those guys are really, really improved.

€”We’€™re going to have a real good problem next spring training,” Martinez added. “Come next year in spring training, we’€™re going to have a seriously good headache in spring training with all of those arms and the improvement that those kids are making.”

Here’s to hoping that Pedro is right.

Photo via Twitter/@PawSox