BOSTON — Alex Hassan will make his major league debut Sunday against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park.
Hassan, who was called up by the Red Sox before Friday’s game, will play right field and bat sixth against Rays starter Erik Bedard. The Milton, Mass., native is hitting .217 (33-for-152) with one homer and 19 RBIs in 45 games with Triple-A Pawtucket this season.
“A local guy that is able to make his major league debut here in Fenway with the Red Sox, I would hope and expect that he’s got quite a few people here watching,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said before Sunday’s game.
Hassan is a Boston College High School graduate. The 26-year-old was drafted in the 20th round in 2009.
Dustin Pedroia will return to the Red Sox’s starting lineup Sunday after missing Saturday’s game with a right hand contusion. Pedroia underwent an MRI on Saturday that revealed no fracture or structural damage.
Brock Holt once again will hit atop the order. Only this time, Holt will play first base for the first time in his professional career. The Red Sox’s goal is to increase Holt’s versatility so that they have more ways to get him into the lineup once Stephen Drew joins the club.
Sunday’s complete lineups are below.
Boston Red Sox (26-29)
Brock Holt, 1B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Jonny Gomes, LF
Alex Hassan, RF
David Ross, C
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Jonathan Herrera, 3B
Jon Lester, LHP (5-6, 3.45)
Tampa Bay Rays (23-33)
Ben Zobrst, RF
Desmond Jennings, CF
Evan Longoria, 3B
Jerry Sands, DH
Sean Rodriguez, LF
Logan Forsythe, 2B
James Loney, 1B
Jose Molina, C
Kevin Kiermaier, RF
Erik Bedard, LHP (2-3, 4.10 ERA)
Photo via Twitter/@PallalitoArnold
