With the Boston Red Sox having lost seven of their last 10 games the team has decided the time is now to call up their top prospect, 20-year-old shortstop Xander Bogaerts, Bogaerts will replace Brock Holt on the 25-man roster who was optioned back to Pawtucket.
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. In 60 games with Triple-A Pawtucket, Bogaerts is hitting .284 with a .369 OBP, .453 slugging percentage .
Scouts and media evaluators generally rank Bogaerts among the top four or five prospects in the game. The Red Sox hope that Bogaerts will provide a spark, especially from the right side.
The team also optioned catcher Ryan Lavarnway (who has hit .283 with a .323 OBP and .383 slugging mark over 19 games at the big league level this year) back to Triple-A Pawtucket in order to clear a roster spot for David Ross, who will be activated from the 60-day DL following a four-game rehab assignment.
Rubby De La Rosa was alos optioned back to Pawtucket after posting a 4.76 ERA, three strikeouts, one walk and three hit batters in 5 2/3 innings spanning five games