Twins trade Fernando Abad to Red Sox for Pat Light

This afternoon the Minnesota Twins traded left-handed pitcher Fernando Abad to the Boston Red Sox for pitching prospect Pat Light. Here's a quick take on the newest member of the Minnesota organization.

Pat Light, RHP: Boston drafted Light in the supplemental first round in 2012 from Monmouth University. Initially a starting pitcher, he struggled with injuries and inconsistent secondary pitches until converting to relief in 2015. He's been excellent out of the bullpen for Triple-A Pawtucket this year, posting a 2.32 ERA in 31 innings with a 36/17 K/BB, 21 hits allowed, and seven saves in seven opportunities. He made his MLB debut earlier this year with the Red Sox but has given up seven hits and eight runs in 2.2 innings of work.

Light is 6-5, 220, born March 25, 1991. He has plenty of fastball, clocked as high as 100 MPH in the past and timed consistently in the mid-90s. In college he relied a great deal on his splitter but the Red Sox had him work on a slider and change-up in the early part of his pro career, with spotty results. He reincorporated the splitter into his arsenal last year and it is an effective pitch, ahead of his other offerings.

Light's control remains inconsistent but he's got a shot at being a bullpen force, at least in the middle and possibly in the late innings.