BOSTON -- The Red Sox have promoted prospects Travis Lakins and Matthew Gorst to Triple-A Pawtucket.

Lakins, a 24-year-old sixth-round pick out of Ohio State in 2015, has allowed just two earned runs, seven hits and eight walks while striking out 22 batters in 21 innings since the Red Sox converted him to a reliever in late May.

"He's 94-97 (mph) with the fastball right now," Red Sox vice president of pitching development Brian Bannister told MassLive.com in June. "He's throwing a nice, short slider at 90 mph. He's always been able to spin the curveball. But being in the bullpen takes the pressure off having to throw the curveball and the changeup for strikes as often.

"He can be much more aggressive and go after hitters," Bannister added. "So not only has the velo ticked up, the slider shape has improved. It's a lot harder and shorter now with late depth. He'll mix the curveball and changeup in occasionally now. But he doesn't have to rely on a four-pitch mix like he did as a starter."

Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski recently discussed Lakins' chances of pitching for Boston this year.

Gorst, who turns 24 on Aug. 24, began the season at High-A Salem where he posted a 1.59 ERA (28 1/3 innings, five earned runs) in 20 outings. He then didn't allow an earned run in 20 1/3 innings (nine outings) at Portland.

The Red Sox drafted him in the 12th round in 2016 out of Georgia Tech.