Will Middlebrooks suffered a slight setback Monday at Triple-A Pawtucket. Shane Victorino returned to game action at Single-A Lowell.
Middlebrooks experienced swelling in his fractured right index finger and was scratched from the PawSox’s lineup. Victorino, who had been sidelined for four straight days during his minor league rehab assignment because of general soreness, went 0-for-3 with the Spinners.
Middlebrooks is hitting .316 in six rehab games with Pawtucket. He could be looking at an extended stay at Triple-A while working his way back, however, as there currently isn’t a defined role for him at the major league level with Xander Bogaerts becoming Boston’s everyday third baseman and shortstop Stephen Drew back in the mix.
Victorino, on the other hand, could rejoin the Red Sox as soon as Friday in New York. Victorino, who landed on the disabled list with a hamstring injury, was expected to join the Red Sox on their current West Coast trip, but soreness forced adjustments to the outfielder’s rehab schedule.
“I can’t say it’s any one specific area,” Red Sox manager John Farrell told reporters in Seattle on Monday while discussing Victorino’s status. “They’re all inter-related — the hamstring, lower back.”
Victorino popped out, grounded out and flied out in Monday’s rehab start with Lowell. He’s expected to play for Pawtucket on Tuesday before being reevaluated.
Photo via Twitter/@LowellSpinners
