Will Middlebrooks is gone. Pablo Sandoval is the starter. Brock Holt is primed for a utility role.
The Boston Red Sox’s third base picture is relatively clear except for Garin Cecchini’s status within the situation.
Cecchini is positioned to begin the season at Triple-A Pawtucket, where he’ll garner additional seasoning after making his major league debut in 2014. The highly regarded prospect’s future remains a mystery, though, as Sandoval signed a five-year, $95 million contract this offseason to essentially become one of Boston’s building blocks down at the hot corner.
“I take it as a positive for my career,” Cecchini told The Boston Globe’s Peter Abraham last week in Fort Myers. “I get to hang out with a great player like (Sandoval) and work with him in spring training. That has to help me.
“It’s easy to say, ‘Where is my spot?’ But I can’t worry about that. You have to create your own opportunity.”
Cecchini appeared in 11 games with Boston last season, though he spent most of the year with Pawtucket. He hit .258 (8-for-31) with a homer, four RBIs and an .813 OPS while supplying some much-needed energy during a disappointing season for the major league club.
It was unlikely that Cecchini was going to be the Red Sox’s starting third baseman in 2015 — he still needs more time to develop, particularly defensively — but he’s now blocked by Sandoval for the foreseeable future. Either a position change or a trade could be in the cards at some point.
“You hear that kind of stuff. But I don’t look too much into it,” Cecchini told Abraham. “Now that I’ve had a little success in the big leagues, I have confidence in my ability and know what I can do. I know I can help the Red Sox win. I understand Pablo is in front of me, but I hope I can do something to help.”
Cecchini played left field for the PawSox last season in addition to manning his usual third base post. It’s possible he could garner playing time there again this season, especially since Hanley Ramirez (a shortstop/third baseman currently learning left field) could create an infield road block even if the injury bug bites Boston.
Cecchini hit .263 with seven homers, 57 RBIs and a .712 OPS in 114 games with Pawtucket last season. The numbers were down from Cecchini’s breakout 2013 campaign, but there’s still more than enough upside to wonder where he’ll fit in once he’s deemed big league-ready.
Thumbnail photo via Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports Images
