Red Sox promote Mookie Betts
By Gordon Edes | ESPNBoston.com
NEW YORK -- The Boston Red Sox are only the second defending world champions in 70 years to have three or more rookies start 40 or more games. The last team to do so, the 1998 Marlins, had little choice because ownership blew up the championship roster.
And that doesn't even take into account the rookies the Sox are carrying on the pitching staff.
[+] Enlarge
On Saturday, the Red Sox turned to youth once more, promoting 21-year-old Mookie Betts to the big leagues in time for Saturday night's game against the New York Yankees, according to a major league source.
The news was earlier reported by the Boston Herald.
A corresponding roster move has yet to be announced, but all signs point to pitcher Rubby De La Rosa returning to Pawtucket. De La Rosa has not pitched since last Saturday, and was not in Boston's rotation for the Chicago Cubs series when the Red Sox return home Monday.
Saturday's promotion completes a less-than-two-year rise through the system for Betts that's even swifter than the ones made by fellow rookies Xander Bogaerts and Jackie Bradley Jr.
Betts hit .355 in 54 games for Portland before being promoted to Pawtucket. He has reached base in all 23 games in which he has played for the PawSox, batting .290 (9 for 31) with runners in scoring position.
Betts, who played second base almost exclusively for the Red Sox after being drafted in the fifth round in June 2011, has been given a crash course in playing the outfield this season. He has played a total of 29 games in the outfield, and for the last two games played right field for the first time in his professional career.
The Red Sox had expected veteran Shane Victorino to return this weekend, but a recurrence of his back problems brought an abrupt end to his rehab assignment with Pawtucket, and he is undergoing treatment with all baseball activity shut down for the foreseeable future.
The Red Sox, held to three hits while being shut out by the Yankees 6-0 on Friday night, have scored three or fewer runs in 10 of their last 12 games. They are scheduled to face Yankees ace Masahiro Tanaka on Saturday night.
Red Sox reporter, ESPNBoston.com
Post a Comment for "Red Sox promote Mookie Betts"