Red Sox rookie thinking of late father as he reaches majors for first time: ‘He’d be fired up’
BOSTON — As Red Sox lefty Tyler Samaniego made the mad dash from Worcester to Boston after being called up to the majors for the first time Wednesday morning, his late father, Rick, was squarely on his mind. Rick Samaniego died at 65 years old in August 2022 as his son was finishing up his second professional season in the Pirates organization. As Tyler surveyed Fenway Park ahead of his first game as an active major leaguer, memories came flooding back.
“I was just thinking about my dad,” Samaniego said. “I lost him at the end of the ‘22 season. He’s the one that introduced me to this game.
Just to make the debut for him, it’s awesome for me. “I’ve got him on my glove every time I go out there. I know he’s out there with me.
” Tyler Samaniego, 27, was acquired by the Red Sox as part of the six-player December trade that sent Johan Oviedo to Boston and outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia to Pittsburgh. Samaniego was a candidate to make the Opening Day roster but instead started the year in Triple-A after the Sox signed veteran Danny Coulombe to solidify their bullpen. With righty Justin Slaten being placed on the injured list due to an oblique strain , the Red Sox called up Samaniego.
He found out shortly from WooSox manager Chad Tracy shortly before heading out to play catch at Polar Park around 9:30 a. m. Wednesday.