Jerez, Light Added to Boston 40-Man Roster

The Boston Red Sox announced their additions to the 40-man roster on Friday, and two of the three selections, left-handed pitcher Williams Jerez and right-handed pitcher Pat Light, are former members of the Greenville Drive.

The 23-year old Jerez was named the Red Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Year for the 2015 season, which he began in Greenville. With the Drive, Jerez posted a 3-1 record and a 2.06 ERA with three saves in 14 appearances, striking out 43 hitters over 39 1/3 innings. Overall, the southpaw logged a 2.54 ERA while splitting time between Greenville, A- Salem and AA-Portland for the year.

Jerez was drafted as an outfielder by the Red Sox in the second round (81st overall) of the 2011 draft before being converted to a pitcher prior to the 2014 season.

Light split the 2015 season between Portland and AAA-Pawtucket and struck out 67 hitters in 62 2/3 innings overall with a 3.88 ERA and five saves in 47 appearances.

The 24-year old Light spent parts of the 2013 and 2014 seasons with the Drive following his selection in the first compensation round (33rd overall) of the 2012 draft by the Red Sox. After an injury-plagued 2013 season in Greenville that saw him make just nine starts, he returned to the Drive to start 2014 and made three starts before a promotion to Salem.

Infielder Marco Hernandez was the third member of the Red Sox system to be added to the 40-man roster. These three players are now protected from being claimed by other teams in December’s Rule 5 Draft.

The Red Sox 40-man roster as of Friday includes 21 Drive alums, including pitchers Jonathan Aro, Matt Barnes, Clay Buchholz, Edwin Escobar, Jerez, Brian Johnson, Light, Roman Mendez, Henry Owens, Noe Ramirez, Koji Uehara and Brandon Workman; catchers Blake Swihart and Christian Vazquez; infielders Xander Bogaerts, Garin Cecchini, Sean Coyle, and Travis Shaw; and outfielders Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley, Jr. and Bryce Brentz.

Escobar and Uehara both pitched for the Drive as part of major league injury rehab assignments, while the other 19 players were part of Greenville’s active roster for at least one game.