Fact or Fiction: Justin Masterson

Justin Masterson has been called up from Portland. He will start tomorrow night against the Angels. Let's get to know him with a little Fact or Fiction:

1. He is the first Jamaican-born member of the Red Sox.
2. At 6-6, Masterson is the tallest pitcher to start a game for the Sox since Derek Lowe.
3. Weighing in at approximately 250 pounds, Masterson is the heaviest Sox picther since El Guapo.
4. He is one of seven Sox on Baseball America's Top 100 Prospects list.
5. He likes to grill asparagus, film it, and post it on YouTube.
6. He is the great-great-great grandson of gunfighter/lawman/sports writer Bat Masterson.
   

1. True. The three other Jamaican-born major leaguers, Chili Davis, Rolando Roomes and Devon White, never suited up for the Sox.
2. False. Kyle Snyder is 6-8. And remember Jason Johnson? Yeah, he was 6-8 and
3. False. David Wells is listed at 248 lbs, but that's probably generous.
4. True. Masterson came in at No. 63; the six others are RHP Clay Buchholz (No. 4); CF Jacoby Ellsbury (No. 13); 1B Lars Anderson (No. 40); 3B Jed Lowrie (No. 73); RHP Michael Bowden (No. 94); and CF Ryan Kalish (No. 96).
5. False. This is not Justin Masterson, major league pitcher.
6. False. But Bat Masterson is the great-grandfather of Robert Ballard, the marine scientist who discovered the wreck of the Titanic in 1985.

Eye on the pups

We've already discussed Hansen's recent success:

Hansen has pitched 9 1/3 scoreless innings in his first six appearances for the PawSox, after finishing last season with 14 2/3 scoreless innings. Overall, opposing batters are hitting .065 (2 for 31) against him this season, with most of his success coming against righthanded hitters, who have one infield hit in 24 at-bats. One Sox official said the team is impressed with the way Hansen has been asserting himself on the mound - the surgery for sleep apnea may be a factor - but they want to see him continue his early success before making any moves.

But another prospect who has taken a few steps back since becoming a professional is beginning to put it together:

In low Class A Greenville, converted reliever Daniel Bard must be getting close to a promotion. He pitched two more scoreless innings (1 BB, 2 K) and has a 0.00 ERA over 11 2/3 innings ... Don't know how long he'll stay in Greenville. Red Sox must hope he gains confidence as a reliever before sending him to Lancaster.

Bard, of course, was a college teammate of Andrew Miller at UNC. Miller has been walking a lot of dudes and allowing an assload of hits for Marlins this year.

Justin Masterson has been masterful(!) for the Sea Dogs. The 22-year-old native of Kingston, Jamaica, has struck out 13 and walked 2 in 14 innings, allowing just 2 runs. George Kottaras has five round trippers for Pawtucket. Lars Anderson, thought to be the Sox' lone power prospect, has 3 home runs and an .879 OPS for Class A Lancaster. No word yet on whether Oscar Tejada is really 18 years old.