Hirokazu Sawamura

Before wrapping up their five-game series against the Orioles at Fenway Park on Monday night, the Red Sox placed left-handed reliever Matt Strahm on the COVID-19 related injured list. In a corresponding move, right-handed reliever Hirokazu Sawamura was recalled from Triple-A Worcester, the team announced. At this time, it is...

BOSTON -- The Red Sox placed lefty reliever Matt Strahm on the COVID-19 related injured list and recalled righty Hirokazu Sawamura from Triple-A Worcester to take his spot, the team announced Monday. Strahm has not tested positive for the virus and is going through protocols, a source said. His placement on the COVID list is precautionary at this time.

In addition to appointing Josh Winckowski as the 27th man for Saturday’s doubleheader against the Orioles at Fenway Park, the Red Sox made four additional roster moves prior to Game 1. Most notably, Hansel Robles was placed on the 15-day injured list due to back spasms while Hirokazu Sawamura...

BOSTON -- The Red Sox reshuffled their bullpen mix a bit Saturday morning, optioning Hirokazu Sawamura to Triple-A Worcester and placing Hansel Robles (back spasms) on the 15-day injured list while recalling righties Ryan Brasier and Phillips Valdez from the WooSox. After the bullpen allowed 10 runs in a brutal loss to Baltimore on Friday, some sort of shakeup was needed.

The Boston Red Sox made five roster moves before their doubleheader against the Orioles on Saturday. They optioned Hirokazu Sawamura to Triple-A Worcester and placed Hansel Robles on the IL with back spasms. They recalled relievers Phillips Valdez and Ryan Brasier from Worcester. Boston also named Josh Winckowski the 27th...

Sawamura was optioned to Triple-A Worcester on Saturday. Sawamura made 18 relief appearances for the Red Sox to begin the season and posted a 3.60 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in 15 innings. However, the right-hander will be sent down as part of a move to make room on the active roster for Ryan Brasier and Phillips Valdez.

Boston Red Sox reliever Hirokazu Sawamura knew of Shohei Ohtani long before Ohtani became a two-way sensation for the Los Angeles Angels. Sawamura and Ohtani both hail from Japan and the two went head-to-head in 2013 while playing in a Japanese baseball league, according to The Boston Globe’s Julian McWilliams.

Sawamura threw a scoreless two-thirds of an inning in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Tigers. Sawamura needed just three pitches to prevent his first inherited runner of the season from scoring. He entered after Rich Hill walked Robbie Grossman with one out in the fifth inning and got a double play on three pitches. He's made two scoreless appearances thus far and could pop up whenever needed in the middle innings. In his first outing, Sawamura retired all three batters faced in the seventh inning against the Yankees last Saturday.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Monday that he anticipates Sawamura (hamstring) filling a critical bullpen role in 2022, Chad Jennings of The Athletic reports. Cora didn't specify whether he envisions Sawamura stepping in as a key high-leverage reliever or more of a multi-inning option out of the bullpen, but in any case, the skipper's endorsement suggests that the right-hander is at least in a good spot health wise after he dealt with a hamstring injury during the postseason. Aside from a brief stint on the injured list last July due to a triceps issue, Sawamura mostly stayed healthy during his rookie campaign with Boston in 2021. He covered 53 frames out of the bullpen, posting a 3.06 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 61:32 K:BB while gathering five wins and 11 holds.

Red Sox reliever Hirokazu Sawamura is currently dealing with a right hamstring injury that could result in him being replaced on Boston’s American League Championship Series roster, manager Alex Cora said prior to Game 6 on Friday. When speaking with reporters (including MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo) during his pregame media availability,...

In a pregame news conference before Friday night’s ALCS Game 6, Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters that reliever Hirokazu Sawamura is dealing with a hamstring injury was potentially going to be removed from the roster. (Twitter links from Chris Cotillo of MassLive and Alex Speier of the Boston Globe.) However, Ian Browne of MLB.com later relayed word from Cora that Sawamura will be sticking around.

Sean McAdam spoke with a scout to break down the matchup between the Red Sox and Astros in this ALCS. (Sean McAdam; Boston Sports Journal) The first game didn’t go the way we wanted, to say the least. Ultimately, it came down to a battle of two bullpens who can be rocky at times, and Houston’s performed better and helped lead them to victory. (John Tomase; NBC Sports Boston)

HOUSTON — The Red Sox announced their 26-man roster for the ALCS, and made two changes from the team that beat the Rays in four games in the ALDS. Relief pitchers Darwinzon Hernandez, who has not pitched in a game since Oct. 1, and Hirokazu Sawamura, who hasn’t appeared since the regular season finale, were both added to the roster. But Matt Barnes, who was initially left off the ALDS roster, was again not included. Austin Davis, who pitched 1/3 of an inning against the Rays, also didn’t make the cut.

HOUSTON — The Red Sox’s bullpen has a different look for the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros. Matt Barnes and Austin Davis, who were on the ALDS roster, have been left off the ALCS roster. Darwinzon Hernandez and Hirokazu Sawamura, who were left off the ALDS roster,...