Only one pitcher among the five non-roster players the Red Sox invited to major league spring training on Friday was not selected by the team in the draft.

Justin Hagenman, unlike Luis Guerrero, Alex Hoppe, A.J. Politi, and Chase Shugart, was acquired by the Red Sox as part of a three-player transaction that sent experienced utility man Enrique Hernandez back to the Dodgers in July of last year.

The 27-year-old Hagenman was originally chosen by Los Angeles out of Penn State in the 23rd round of the 2018 amateur draft. That summer, the New Jersey native made his Pioneer League debut as a professional after signing a contract with the team for a mere $75,000.

Out of the five non-roster players invited by the Red Sox to major league spring training on Friday, only one pitcher was not chosen by the organization in the draft.

Unlike Luis Guerrero, Alex Hoppe, A.J. Politi, and Chase Shugart, Justin Hagenman was acquired by the Red Sox in July of last year as a part of a three-player trade that sent veteran utility man Enrique Hernandez back to the Dodgers.

In the 23rd round of the 2018 amateur draft, Los Angeles selected the 27-year-old Hagenman out of Penn State. That summer, after agreeing to a meager $75,000 deal with the organization, the native of New Jersey made his professional debut in the Pioneer League.

Hagenman played all of 2023 with Triple-A Worcester, unlike Robertson, who made his Los Angeles debut earlier in the year and played in nine games with Boston in the final stretch before being traded to the Cardinals in December. Over 30 1/3 innings of relief, he recorded a 3.26 ERA and 5.25 FIP in 16 appearances for the WooSox, while also striking out 28 batters against 14 walks. He surrendered only one run in his final 12 2/3 innings of the season in September, which helped him maintain a.232 batting average against opposing batters throughout that span.

Hagenman threw 85 1/3 innings last season between the top affiliates of the Dodgers and Red Sox, going 6-0 with a 2.95 ERA (4.95 FIP), 88 strikeouts to 25 walks in 41 total appearances (five starts). Unsurprisingly, he performed better against right-handed hitters (.619 OPS against) than left-handed hitters (.807 OPS against), going 2-for-2 in save opportunities (one at each stop).

Hagenman placed 22nd in strikeouts per nine innings (9.28), 10th in walks per nine innings (2.64), 11th in strikeout rate (25.4 percent), 17th in walk rate (7.2 percent), seventh in batting average against (.228), third in WHIP (1.15), first in left on base percentage (91 percent), second in ERA, 33rd in FIP, and 20th in xFIP (4.70) among the 91 pitchers who pitched 80 or more innings at the Triple-A level in 2023. These statistics are based on data from FanGraphs.
Hagenman placed 22nd in strikeouts per nine innings (9.28), 10th in walks per nine innings (2.64), 11th in strikeout rate (25.4 percent), 17th in walk rate (7.2 percent), seventh in batting average against (.228), third in WHIP (1.15), first in left on base percentage (91 percent), second in ERA, 33rd in FIP, and 20th in xFIP (4.70) among the 91 pitchers who pitched 80 or more innings at the Triple-A level in 2023. These statistics are based on data from FanGraphs.

Hagenman, who is 6-foot-3 and weighs 205 pounds, has a four-pitch mix that includes a fastball that reaches 92–94 mph with arm-side run, a slider that produces whiffs in the low–80s, a changeup that hits in the mid–80s, and an occasional cutter. Hagenman pitches from a low three-quarters arm slot.

“All of Hagenman’s pitches are fringy to below-average, but he fills the strike zone with above-average control and executes well,” as Baseball America’s Kyle Glaser observed.

Though he doesn’t turn 28 until October, SoxProspects.com currently projects Hagenman to return to Worcester’s bullpen in time for the 2024 season to begin. With his eligibility for the Rule 5 Draft and minor-league free agency coming up the following winter, he may be able to use this year’s success to earn a seat on Boston’s 40-man roster in the not-too-distant future.

The Red Sox added eight non-roster invitees to their spring training roster on Friday in addition to Hagenman, Guerrero, Hoppe, Politi, and Shugart. These players include outfielder Corey Rosier, infielders Chase Meidroth, Nick Sogard, and Nick Yorke, and catchers Nathan Hickey, Mark Kolozsvary, Roberto Perez, and Stephen Scott.