Heath Hembree was acquired when the Red Sox were dumping all their 2013 heroes the following year to see what they could get. Hembree was a fifth round draft choice in 2010 for the San Francisco Giants. Hembree has been groomed as a reliever his entire professional career. In his first full year in the minors, he notched 38 saves, recording 115 saves in his four-plus years in the Giants organization.
Hembree debuted impressively with 7.2 scoreless innings in 2013, striking out 12 batters. In 2014, he was back closing at AAA Fresno (31 saves in late July) when he was swapped for ex-ace and duckboat lover Jake Peavy, along with fellow prospect Edwin Escobar.