Anderson Espinoza Traded to Padres

For the second time this season, the Greenville Drive have seen a key member of the roster included in a trade, as right-handed pitcher Anderson Espinoza has been sent to the San Diego Padres in exchange for left-handed pitcher Drew Pomeranz.

Espinoza signed with the Red Sox out of Venezuela in 2014. He was widely regarded as the best pitching prospect in the Red Sox organization prior to 2016, and he held his own with the Drive this season as the youngest player in the South Atlantic League.  

The 18-year old led the Drive with 72 strikeouts at the time of the trade, and he posted a 5-8 record with a 4.38 ERA in 17 starts. He showed flashes of brilliance on the mound, with the highlight of his season being an 11-strikeout performance in a win over Augusta on May 5th.

Pomeranz was selected as a National League All-Star for the Padres this season thanks to a 2.47 ERA and an 8-7 record over 17 starts with 115 strikeouts in 102 innings.

The Drive also lost infielder Luis Alejandro Basabe and pitcher Jose Almonte in a trade with Arizona last week.