Brandon Workman

Brandon Workman's role will be determined in spring training, but it could be one that keeps on changing. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

In preparation for the 2014 season, '25 Players in 25 Days' will take an in-depth look at the most impactful players on the Boston Red Sox until pitchers and catchers report Feb. 15. The series continues with Brandon Workman.

Brandon Workman, RHP

Age opening day: 25

Years with Red Sox: 1

Contract status: Arbitration-eligible in 2017, eligible for free agency in 2020

Key statistic in 2013: 47 strikeouts in 41 2/3 innings

Expected role in 2014: Spot starter/middle relief

THE GLORY

Brandon Workman had just pitched the best game of his short career, striking out nine Seattle Mariners in six innings, allowing just one run to pick up his first major league win.

It was July 30 and it marked his third start with the Boston Red Sox. He was the emergency guy, earning a chance to pitch due to injury and necessity after starting the year with Double-A Portland and progressing through the minor league system.

The start was an attention grabber, a look-at-me, I-can-really-do-this moment for a 6-foot-5 right-hander who attacks hitters with fastballs. He threw strikes and the Mariners couldn’t touch him. They swung and missed 14 times.

After Workman had showered and talked to reporters about his best day as a player, after manager John Farrell said, “Hopefully tonight is the first of many wins for him as he goes forward,” Workman found out he’d no longer be needed in the rotation.

With the trade deadline approaching, Boston acquired Jake Peavy from the Chicago White Sox. The acquisition gave the Red Sox the veteran starter they were looking for.

Workman was then slotted into the bullpen, went through growing pains and finished the season by pitching 21 1/3 relief innings with a 6.33 ERA. It wasn’t the transition the Red Sox were looking for, but Workman found new success with the adrenaline of the postseason, throwing 8 2/3 shutout innings when they mattered most.

His performance as a reliever created split opinions. He can overpower with his 92 mph fastball, at times. He can also get into trouble by being too aggressive.

Batters No. 1 through No. 4 hit .387 off Workman, but batters 5 through 9 hit just .172.

“Once he gets through that first or second inning, he's really started to find a very good rhythm,” Farrell said in July.

Rhythm is harder to come by when the first 20 pitches may be the only 20 pitches.

Based on the construction of the Red Sox roster – they have six starting pitchers (along with a handful of talented minor league starters) entering spring training – Workman may be needed out of the bullpen.

There’s still time for a trade to be made.

If the Red Sox unload a starter, Workman should have more of an opportunity to make some starts, a role he’s been comfortable with. With three quality starts in his first three tries, Workman became just the fifth Red Sox pitcher since 1980 to open his career in that fashion (Josh Beckett, Pedro Martinez, Hideo Nomo and Tim Wakefield are the others).

He has shown the ability, at times, to perform well out of the bullpen, too. That transition often takes time, and a young pitcher trying to break through with a major league team can benefit from performing well in any role.

It all depends what the Red Sox need. And what they need could change over time.

At 25 years old, Workman’s career is just getting started.

THE QUESTION

Could Workman start the season in the minor leagues?

It certainly seems possible. The Red Sox have starters with more experience and relievers with more proven success, so they could choose to let Workman pick up some time at Triple-A Pawtucket, where he only made six starts last year.

He’ll enter spring training as a starting pitcher and transition to the bullpen if necessary. With his success as a starter, Boston may want to keep him there.

AND THIS TOO

Workman issued just 88 walks in 370 2/3 minor league innings (about 2.1 per 9). At the University of Texas, he walked just 23 in 104 2/3, striking out 101.

His numbers at Bowie High School in Texas were even better. He earned all-district honorable mention as a freshman while playing the infield. Workman then combined to throw 223 innings with 35 walks and 390 strikeouts over his next three seasons.

FROM HIS COMPUTER TO YOURS

The Texas native wasn’t a fan of the New England winter.