Here’s the press release from the Portland Sea Dogs detailing the promotion of Boston Red Sox prospect Junichi Tazawa to the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox.
Portland, Maine– Portland Sea Dogs’ right-handed pitcher Junichi Tazawa has been promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket. Right-handed pitcher Adam Mills rejoined the Sea Dogs from Single-A Lowell.
The 22 year-old Tazawa, has posted a 9-5 record in 18 starts for the Sea Dogs this season with a 2.57 ERA (28 ER/ 98.0 IP), his 2.57 ERA ranks second in the Eastern League. His nine wins are tied for second in the league and his 88 strikeouts are tied for third. Tazawa was named to the 2009 Eastern League All-Star team, but did not appear in the midsummer classic. He was also selected to the 2009 XM Satellite MLB Futures Game in St. Louis, Missouri. Tazawa was slated to start the Future’s Game for the World team before a rain delay scratched his appearance.
Tazawa was signed by the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent on December 11, 2008. He joined the Red Sox organization after a four-year amateur career with the Nippon Oil ENEOS of the Japan Industrial League. Tazawa posted a 13-1 record with five saves and 0.80 ERA (10 ER/ 113 IP) in 21 games (11 starts) in 2008. The Yokohama, Japan native is rated by Baseball America as the seventh ranked prospect in the Red Sox organization.
