Red Sox Third Base Prospect Will Middlebrooks Promoted to Pawtucket

The Red Sox have promoted highly rated prospect Will Middlebrooks to Triple-A Pawtucket, according to the PawSox.

Middlebrooks, 22, hit .302 with 18 home runs and an Eastern League-leading 80 RBIs in 96 games with Double-A Portland this year. He was considered the top batting prospect in the league by Baseball America and is thought by some to be the top prospect in the entire Red Sox system.

Although a triceps strain forced him to the disabled list just as he was red hot in June, Middlebrooks has been hitting rather consistently since Opening Day. He returned from the DL to hit three more home runs in a rehab stint with short-A Lowell and then recording a Portland record with 29 RBIs in July.

Middlebrooks has hit .364 (44-for-121) with runners in scoring position and .391 (25-for-64) with RISP and two outs.

A fifth-round pick in 2007, Middlebrooks also has a reputation as a very solid defensive third baseman.