Durbin Feltman's wipeout slider and upper-90s fastball could allow him to reach the majors this season some baseball writers have speculated.

Boston just drafted the righty in the third round this June. The 21-year-old out of TCU began his professional career June 29 at Short Season Lowell. He earned a quick promotion to Low-A Greenville on July 10.

He has allowed two earned runs and six hits in 10 innings (1.80 ERA) between Lowell and Greenville. He has struck out 20 and walked only one.

"He's been tremendous for us," Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski told MassLive.com recently.

But will he receive the chance to be tremendous in Boston at some point this season?

"We didn't draft him with that purpose," Dombrowski explained. "We think he can move fast because he's got ability. He's good in the bullpen. But we didn't draft him with the idea of pitching for us this year."

But it could happen. Dombrowski has done it before.

"I've been involved with that a couple times," Dombrowski said. "Andrew Miller was a guy that did it."

Dombrowski, then Tigers GM, drafted Miller sixth overall in 2006 out of UNC. Miller signed Aug. 8, 2006, and he made his major league debut 22 days later after appearing in just three minor league games, all at High-A Lakeland. He allowed only two hits, walked one and struck out nine in 5 scoreless innings at Lakeland.

Miller then hurled a scoreless inning of relief in his major league debut at Yankee Stadium on Aug. 30.

He didn't experience much success after his first outing though. Miller posted a 6.10 ERA in (10 1/3 innings, 7 earned runs) in eight outings overall in August and September.

Dombrowski also mentioned being a part of Britt Burns' rapid acceleration through the White Sox system in 1978. At the time, Dombrowski served as an administrative assistant in Chicago's minor league and scouting departments.

"A guy that most people don't even know, Britt Burns, my first year was an outstanding starting pitcher," Dombrowski said. "He came out of high school. Pitched in a few games. Pitched in the big leagues for us. And then we sent him back (to the minors)."

The White Sox drafted Burns in the third round in 1978 out of Huffman High in Birmingham, Ala. He debuted Aug. 5, 1978, at just 19 years old.

He allowed 11 earned runs in 7 2/3 innings over two starts.

"He was an All-Star pitcher," Dombrowski said. "So yeah, I've been part of that."