By Josh Maurer & Will Flemming

In a move that was just announced today, the Red Sox have sent right-handed pitching prospect Alex Wilson to the bullpen and have replaced him in the Pawtucket rotation with Brandon Duckworth.

Wilson, Boston’s 2nd round pick in 2009, entered this season as the Red Sox №11 overall prospect — their №3 pitching prospect. Judging by the needs of the Red Sox, moving Wilson to the bullpen seems like a logical move, and it’s something that the right-hander is embracing.

“The way I look at it is an opportunity right now. I talked with [Red Sox] management and they said that’s where they’d like to see me. I’m going to take the opportunity and run with it.”

Working out of a relief role is not entirely new to Wilson. In his final season with Texas A&M, he appeared primarily out of the bullpen.

“Outside of my first eight games which were starts, I came out of the ‘pen and had some real good success,” Wilson said. “I’m not that far removed from it, I’ll be able to remember after a game or two what to do.”

Aside from now needing to be ready to pitch almost any day, Alex told me that this won’t change the way he commands the game on the mound.

“My stuff is going to play the same. I’m still going to come at hitters and challenge them the whole way.”

We could get a look at Wilson’s first-career relief appearance tonight as the PawSox open a brief two-game series with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre from McCoy Stadium. First pitch is set for 6:15, we’ll be on-air with the pre-game show at 6:00.

Talk with you then,

-AG

@aaronmgoldsmith

agoldsmith@pawsox.com