Red Sox's Michael Gettys: Makes full-time move to pitcher
Rotowire
Gettys has working out exclusively as a pitcher during the Red Sox's minor-league camp, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.
Gettys was an outfield prospect of some repute when he was selected by the Padres with the 51st overall pick in the 2014 first-year player draft, but his outlook has dimmed considerably since he reached the Double-A level for the first time in 2018. He began dabbling between hitting and pitching for the first time during the 2021 season, and after he slashed a lowly .201/.271/.349 (65 wRC+) in 166 plate appearances for Triple-A Worcester, Gettys will turn his focus entirely to the mound. Given his limited experience as a pitcher, expect Gettys to start the season with one of Boston's lower-level affiliates.
Gettys signed a minor-league contract with the Red Sox on Tuesday.
A second-round pick of the Padres in 2014, Gettys became one of the more intriguing minor-league free agents to reach the open market earlier this month, when he elected free agency. While he didn't see any action in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor-league season, the 25-year-old was a standout hitter in the previous year, as he slugged 31 home runs and chipped in 14 steals across 551 plate appearances for Triple-A El Paso. Gettys will likely report to Triple-A Pawtucket to begin the 2021 campaign, and he could be near the top of the list for a callup if the big club should require an extra outfielder at any point.
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Padres' Michael Gettys: Returned to minor-league camp
Rotowire
Gettys was reassigned to minor-league camp Sunday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Gettys went 1-for-9 during spring training, scoring two runs and stealing one base. He'll likely return to Triple-A El Paso to begin the season. In 551 at-bats at that level last season, Gettys hit .256 with 31 home runs, 91 RBI and 14 stolen bases.
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Padres' Michael Gettys: Back in action at High-A
Rotowire
Gettys is 6-for-22 (.273) with a home run and a double since returning from the disabled list with High-A Lake Elsinore on July 26.
Despite the strong hitting production, strikeouts continue to plague him, as he managed to whiff 12 times in his six games back. His raw power and ability to take walks should help keep him afloat moving forward, but the strikeouts may limit how quickly Gettys will advance through the Padres' system.
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Padres' Michael Gettys: Hits DL with undisclosed issue
Rotowire
Gettys was placed on the disabled list with High-A Lake Elsinore on Wednesday, Bill Center of FriarWire reports.
No word has come forth as to how he got injured or what the issue is, so it's tough to determine a timetable for his return. Prior to this, Gettys was slashing .262/.333/.430 with 10 home runs in 81 games with the Storm this season.
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Padres' Michael Gettys: Hits three homers Friday
Rotowire
Gettys, 21, hit three solo home runs in Friday's game for High-A Lake Elsinore. He is now hitting .261/.342/.430 with seven homers and 13 steals (on 17 attempts) in 207 at-bats.
His 33.6 percent strikeout rate is his highest mark as a professional, but he is also walking at a career-best 8.9 percent clip. Gettys is a toolshed -- a potential 25-homer/30-steal threat -- but there are a lot of evaluators who don't think he will ever hit enough for it to matter.
