The Red Sox made a host of roster changes shortly after midnight on Monday morning, following their 9-6 loss to the Yankees. Most notably The Red Sox have decided to call up their top prospect, 20-year-old shortstop Xander Bogaerts.
Bogaerts has hit .297 with an .865 OPS in 116 games for Double A Portland and Triple A Pawtucket this season. He has 15 home runs and 67 RBIs. Bogaerts will replace Brock Holt on the 25-man roster and serve as a utility player who can spell shortstop Stephen Drew.
Bogaerts is a righthanded hitter and his presence could help the Red Sox improve their production against lefthanded starters, something that has been an issue since the All-Star break. With Pawtucket, Bogaerts has hit .298/.452/.474 against lefthanders.
Scouts and media evaluators generally rank Bogaerts among the top four or five prospects in the game. With the Red Sox having lost seven of their last 10 games, team executives hope that Bogaerts will provide a spark. He would be the youngest Red Sox position player since 20-year-old Dwight Evans in 1972.
Catcher David Ross will come off the 60-day disabled list as well before the Red Sox start a three-game series against the Giants on Monday. Ryan Lavarnway will return to Pawtucket.
To make room for Bogaerts and Ross on the 40-man roster, the Sox are expected to place injured pitchers Andrew Bailey and Clay Buchholz on the 60-day disabled list.
Bailey is out for the season after undergoing shoulder surgery. Buchholz has been out longer than 60 days already and the move is retroactive.
Xander Bogaerts will join the Red Sox on Monday for his big league debut. Duck Blabber congratulates Xander & wishes him the best of luck.
Source: Boston Globe & Fenway Nation
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