Mark Melancon is the newest member of the Boston Red Sox, as a trade on Wednesday sent Jed Lowrie and Kyle Weiland to the Houston Astros in exchange for the 26-year-old right-handed reliever, according to reports.
Melancon has played three major league seasons, going 10-5 with a 3.21 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 106 career games. Alex Speier of WEEI.com writes that Melancon brings a solid fastball with an elite curveball.
Melancon throws a 92-95 mph fastball (sitting at 94 mph) with above-average movement, resulting in a high groundball rate. His 81-84 mph power curveball is described by at least one AL evaluator as a "double-plus" offering, meaning it is an elite offering that is his primary out-pitch. He's a long-limbed pitcher who is able to generate deception with his delivery, and the pitcher's makeup (based on his work ethic and mental toughness) also are considered positive attributes.
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