The Boston Red Sox announced Friday afternoon that they have claimed the speedy outfielder in Tim Locastro off waivers from the Yankees.
The #RedSox today claimed OF Tim Locastro off waivers from the New York Yankees. The 40-man roster is now at 35.
— Red Sox (@RedSox) November 5, 2021
Locastro has logged just 209 major-league appearances in his career (starting in 2017). The 29-year-old hit just .180 with two homers and a 44 wRC+ in 2021 through 64 games with the Yankees and Diamondbacks (55 with Arizona) this season but has ranked in the 100th percentile of sprint speed every year that he’s had enough opportunities to qualify for a percentile.
The outfielder has sprinted 30.7 feet per second the past two seasons, while he was a tick higher in 2019, at 30.8.
He also showed some promise in 2020, despite a horrid 2021, as in 33 games he hit .290/.395/.464, posting a 134 wRC+ and hitting a pair of long balls. While it is a limited sample size in a limited 60-game season, it does show what he has the capability to do. In 2019 he stole 17 bases through 91 games and was not caught stealing ever until he went just 4-for-7 on the basepaths this season.
Locastro could be in the running for a platoon spot this season.
(Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images)