Mookie Betts Hitting Eighth, Playing Right Field In Major League Debut

When Mookie Betts was called up on Saturday, it was only a matter of time before he made his long-awaited major league debut.

Betts will hit eighth and play right field Sunday night against the New York Yankees in his first career MLB game.

The 21-year old phenom tore it up in the minor leagues this year. After being promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket from Double-A Portland earlier this season, he hit .322 with two home runs and 14 RBIs in 23 games before getting the call to Boston.

Betts takes the place of third baseman Xander Bogaerts in the lineup, as the third baseman has been given the night off. Bogaerts is just 2-for-35 over his last nine games and 6-for-66 since June 8. The right-handed hitter will rest against Yankees starter Chase Whitley, who has held righties to a .224 batting average this season.

With Betts taking right field, Brock Holt returns to third base for the first time since June 15 and for just the third time in the month of June.

Finally, A.J. Pierzynski returns to the lineup and will hit sixth and catch for John Lackey, who will try to bounce back from a tough outing in Seattle in which he allowed seven earned runs in just 3 2/3 innings.

Here are the full lineups for Sunday night’s game:

Boston Red Sox (37-44)

Brock Holt, 3B
Daniel Nava, LF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Mike Napoli, 1B
A.J. Pierzynski, C
Stephen Drew, SS
Mookie Betts, RF
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF

John Lackey, RHP (8-5, 3.45 ERA)

New York Yankees (41-38)

Brett Gardner, LF
Derek Jeter, SS
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Brain McCann, C
Carlos Beltran, DH
Kelly Johnson, 3B
Brian Roberts, 2B
Ichiro Suzuki, RF

Chase Whitley (3-1, 4.07 ERA)