March 27, 2023

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

Logan Hofmann (Muenster, Sask.) made his Grapefruit League debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday.

The 5-foot-10 right-hander entered the game against the Atlanta Braves in the bottom of the eighth inning and recorded two outs. He also allowed a pair of runs, but it was still a monumental accomplishment for the 23-year-old righty.

Selected in the fifth round of the 2020 MLB draft by the Pirates out of Northwestern State University of Louisiana, the Muenster Red Sox and Team Saskatchewan alum has pitched parts of two seasons in the Bucs’ organization, posting a combined 4.56 ERA in 48 appearances (13 starts). He has struck out 128 batters in 118 1/3 professional innings.

Hofmann, who also honed his skills with the Moose Jaw Miller Express of the Western Canadian Baseball League in 2018, was originally drafted in the 35th round by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2019, but he opted not to sign and to head to college.

Paxton throws batting practice for Red Sox

Pete Abraham, of The Boston Globe, reported that James Paxton (Ladner, B.C.) threw live batting practice for the Boston Red Sox on Saturday. This is a step forward for the veteran lefty, but he will not be ready for Opening Day. The hope is that Paxton will be able to join the Red Sox early in the season. The 34-year-old southpaw exited his only spring training start this year on March 3 with a hamstring injury. Paxton, who had signed with the Red Sox prior to the 2022 season, exercised his $4-million option with the club in November. After undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2021, Paxton had been working his way back in the Sox system when he suffered a grade 2 lat tear in late August 2022 that shut him down for the season. A North Delta Blue Jays and Junior National Team alum, the Canuck lefty has pitched in parts of nine major league campaigns and owns a 57-33 record and a 3.59 ERA in 137 starts.

Sanchez reassigned to minors by Twins

Former Toronto Blue Jays starter Aaron Sanchez was reassigned to Minnesota Twins’ minor league camp on Sunday. Sanchez was hit hard in his five appearances for the Twins in Grapefruit League action this spring, going 0-4 with a 16.97 ERA. The 30-year-old right-hander has struggled to stay healthy since his outstanding 15-2 season with the Blue Jays in 2016 in which he topped the American League with a 3.00 ERA. He has since pitched for the Houston Astros, San Francisco Giants, Washington Nationals and Twins. He finished last season with the Twins, recording a 4.71 ERA in eight appearances (three starts).