Boston Red Sox third baseman Will MiddlebrooksIs in Pawtucket on a rehab assignment and he may find that his stay in the minor leagues extends beyond a traditional rehab assignment. Middlebrooks is eligible to return on Saturday.
Red Sox manager John Farrell spoke to the media on Wednesday night, and said, “This is not only a chance to make sure his health issue is behind him, which everything points to that being the case, but also to use this as an opportunity to get some momentum going before he gets back. Hopefully that is sooner rather than later.”
Middlebrooks was hitting just .201 before going on the disabled list and was seemingly having better at-bats before the injury, but the team wants to make sure before bringing him back to the big-league roster.
“When he sees the ball deeper in the zone and drives it the other way,” Farrell said, “that’s when he’s at his best, and that was starting to happen.”
Perhaps complicating matters is Jose Iglesias who took over at third base since Middlebrooks went on the DL has been very productive. The Red Sox maintain that Middlebrooks is their third baseman, but just aren’t sure about when he will be back in the lneup.
