Those hoping to see Xander Bogaerts in a Boston uniform will have to wait a little longer.
Will Middlebrooks is set to be called up to the Red Sox from Triple-A Pawtucket on Saturday, according to WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford. In a corresponding move, Brandon Snyder will be moved to the 15-day disabled list.
Middlebrooks was optioned to Pawtucket on June 25 after a dismal first half with the Red Sox. The third baseman hit just .192 with nine home runs and 25 RBI, a far cry from his rookie season in 2012, when he hit .288. He did better for Pawtucket in 45 games there, batting .268 with 10 homers and 35 RBI.
The Red Sox have been operating under a platoon at third base between Snyder and Brock Holt since trading Jose Iglesias at the deadline, but neither has made a strong case to be the permanent starter. Snyder was hitting just .209 while Holt has hit .203 this season.
Since the Iglesias trade, many have hoped to see a Bogaerts promotion, and by all accounts, the 20-year-old seems to be worthy of one. He was promoted from Double-A Portland to Pawtucket in June, and he’s hit .275 with eight homers and 26 RBI in 49 games for the PawSox this season.
On Thursday, Sox president and CEO Larry Lucchino said he thinks the top prospect will get called up this season. Now, with less than two months left in the regular season, only time will tell if it will actually happen.
