Marrero, Celestino Promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket

Almanzar Returns to the Sea Dogs

July 2, 2014

Portland, Maine -- The Portland Sea Dogs and Boston Red Sox have announced that shortstop Deven Marrero and right-handed reliever Miguel Celestino have been promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket. Infielder Michael Almanzar has been assigned to the Sea Dogs after clearing waivers following his release from the Baltimore Orioles, righty Jeremy Kehrt has been assigned from Pawtucket, righty Pete Ruiz from Low-A Greenville, and Keith Couch has been placed on the Disabled-List to fill out the 25-Man roster.

Marrero leaves the Sea Dogs with a .287 average (77-for-268), five home runs, 39 RBI, and 12 stolen bases after 68 games played in the 2014 season. The shortstop had a red-hot month of June and finished 32-for-87 (.368) with nine extra-base hits, 18 runs scored, three home runs, and 11 RBI.

He earned Eastern League Player of the Week Honors for the week ending June 22^nd, during which the Florida native hit 13-for-20 (.650) with a triple, home run, and four RBI in six games. He departs the Eastern League as the best defensive shortstop committing just six errors in 271 total chances, which calculates out to a .978 fielding percentage.

The former Arizona State University standout is ranked the #15 overall prospect in the Red Sox system and tabbed as the "Best Defensive Infielder" and "Best Infield Arm" according to Baseball America. He was drafted in the 1^st round (24^th overall) in the 2012 Draft by the Boston Red Sox.

In his Double-A career, Marrero has logged 87 games and hit .276 (94-for-340) with five home runs, 44 RBI, 18 stolen bases, and eight errors in 373 total chances (.979).

Celestino leaves the Sea Dogs with a 1-2 record, six saves in eight chances, and a 3.07 ERA (10ER/29.1IP) in 23 appearances out of the bullpen. The righty went 2-11 with a 5.24 ERA (62ER/101.1IP) in 62 career appearances in Double-A.

Celestino struck out 34 hitters, walked eight, and gave up only two home runs in his second stint in Double-A. From June 5^th - June 11^th the Dominican Republic native earned a win and two saves in three straight appearances. He was acquired from the Seattle Mariners as the player to be named later in a March 2010 trade, in which Boston received Bill Hall and cash for Casey Kotchman.

Almanzar returns to the Boston Red Sox organization following his release form the Baltimore Orioles. The club selected him from the Red Sox in December's Rule 5 draft. According to Rule 5 regulations he had to stay on the Orioles' roster all season or be offered back to the Red Sox for half the cost of the selection. The infielder batted a combined .156 with one homer in nine rehab games at three different minor league levels before being removed from the 60-day disabled list (patellar tendonitis) and designated for assignment.

Almanzar spent all of 2013 with Portland and hit .268 (136-for-507) with 16 home runs and 81 RBI in 131 games. The 23-year old added 29 doubles, three triples, and 13 stolen bases during his first tenure with the Sea Dogs. He was originally signed by the Red Sox as an International Free Agent in July of 2007.

Kehrt went 0-4 with a 5.45 ERA (20ER/33.0IP) in 13 games/four starts with the PawSox this season. The 28-year old righty was a 47^th round pick by the Red Sox in the 2008 draft out of the University of Southern Indiana. Last season, Kehrt went 2-5 with a 4.71 ERA (45ER/86.0IP) in 27 games/nine starts between Portland and Pawtucket. Overall, in Double-A, the righty has compiled a 16-19 record with a 4.60 ERA (185ER/362.1IP) in 89 games/46 starts all with the Portland Sea Dogs.

Ruiz went 0-0 with a 3.26 ERA (7ER/19.1IP) in 11 appearances, all out of the bullpen, for the Greenville Drive this season. The 26-year old makes his way back from injury and returns to Portland for the second time in his career. The righty went 3-3 with a 5.23 ERA (31ER/53.1IP) in 30 appearances out of the 'pen in his first stint with the Sea Dogs at the end of the 2013 campaign. Ruiz was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 10^th round of the 2008 Draft from Santa Barbara City College.

The Sea Dogs have had six players promoted to Pawtucket this season: INF/OF Mookie Betts, Celestino, Marrero, INF/OF Carlos Rivero, 1B/3B Travis Shaw, and RHP Jose Valdez.