Report: Kevin Youkilis Will Remain Starter at Third Base When He Returns From Injury

While Will Middlebrooks continues to have success against major league pitching, Kevin Youkilis doesn’t need to worry about becoming the next Wally Pipp, apparently.

Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington told reporters in Kansas City that Youk will still be the team’s starting third baseman when he returns from the disabled list.

“If Youk returns in a week and is ready to go, he plays third base,” Cherington was quoted as saying. “He’s been here. It’s great that Will has come up and done a good job and we like him a lot and he’s a big part of our future. But Youk’s on the DL and he didn’t lose his job because he got hurt.”

That’s good news for Youkilis, but if Middlebrooks keeps it up, the team may need to find a way to keep him in the lineup. That’s why Bobby Valentine suggested the youngster could find himself playing outfield, although Cherington cautioned against that idea.

“We haven’t talked about that,” said Cherington. “We like him at third base. We have to be a little careful about moving guys around in the middle of the season without a full spring training to work on things. We haven’t discussed that. We’ve got to get Youk back first before that’s a decision we’d have to make.”

How that decision turns out will be anxiously awaited by Sox fans.