Overview
- Kahnle exercised a minor-league opt-out earlier this week, and the Red Sox selected his contract before Thursday’s game against Baltimore to avoid losing him.
- To clear room for the move, Boston transferred Trevor Story to the 60-day injured list and optioned rookie reliever Tyler Samaniego to Triple-A Worcester.
- Kahnle arrived from Triple-A on the strength of a 1.40 ERA and 21 strikeouts in about 19⅓ innings for Worcester, numbers that created the leverage behind his opt-out.
- In his Boston debut he recorded the final six outs on Thursday without allowing a run, issuing two hits and two walks while striking out one batter.
- The club noted a tactical shift in Kahnle’s approach — fewer changeups and more four-seam fastballs and a slider — and Boston will now weigh whether his effectiveness earns a sustained major-league bullpen role.