Former UH pitcher Wright stays versatile with Red Sox

ARLINGTON, Texas » No matter whether he’s pitching for Boston as a starter or a reliever, all that matters to Steven Wright is he has a major league address.

So far in 2015, the 30-year-old University of Hawaii product has made five appearances for the Red Sox, three as a starter, and is 2-2 with a 3.90 ERA. But no matter which role he’s filling, his mentality remains the same every time he toes the rubber for the Sox.

"For me, it doesn’t change anything. You still got to go out there and throw strikes, make quality pitches," Wright said. "I pitch to contact, so the more times I can throw quality knuckleballs in the zone, the better chances I’m going to have to go deeper into a game."

Of course, having a knuckleball in his repertoire, which he started throwing when he was 9, never hurt his chances of being effective in either role.

"It wasn’t until about 2012 where I was like full bore (with the knuckler)," Wright said. "That this is what I’m going to do. If I’m going to make it, this is how I’m going to do it."

In the meantime, he has picked the brains of other great knuckleballers like Tom Candiotti, Charlie Hough and Tim Wakefield, who once plied his trade with the Red Sox. And Boston’s current manager, John Farrell, was previously Boston’s pitching coach and worked closely with Wakefield.

"It’s nice because he remembers the stuff that Wakefield (did) when he was doing good and when he was doing bad," Wright said. "Because of that expertise he had with Wake, plus I got (to talk to) Wakefield too that I can go to, so it makes it a little bit easier for me to kind of go about my business."

Farrell likes the fact that the veteran right-hander is effective regardless of his role.

"He’s unique, obviously, and the beauty of what he’s done in both roles is he’s just gone out and pitched. He hasn’t been caught up in ‘Am I a reliever or a starter?’ He’s done a great job of staying ready and stretched out," Farrell said. "The ability to go up to 100-plus pitches is there. We value and like the contrasting style that he brings us."

One added bonus with pitching for the Red Sox is that he has been teammates with someone else with Hawaii ties in Boston outfielder Shane Victorino, someone he developed a close friendship with rather quickly because of the common ground they share by having roots in the Aloha State.

"It’s nice, because even though I’m not from Hawaii, the fact I have ties there, me and Shane have gotten along from the get-go. He’s kind of taken me under his wing," Wright said. "He’s a guy who I go to for advice."

So, while some in his position might not like the constant back-and-forth of shuttling between the rotation and the bullpen, Wright doesn’t really mind.

"I know that if I’m going to stay on this team, that’s going to be my role. I’m going to be bouncing back and forth and I’m all right with that," Wright said. "I think it’s fun either way. The fact that you’re in the big leagues, it doesn’t really matter what your particular role is, still got to go out there and do your job."