BOSTON — Shane Victorino has returned.
The Red Sox activated Victorino from the disabled list before Saturday’s game against the Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park. Mookie Betts was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket in a corresponding roster move.
Victorino hasn’t appeared in a major league game since May 23. He landed on the DL with a hamstring injury and later tweaked his back during a rehab game with Pawtucket. The 33-year-old has appeared in just 21 games with Boston this season, hitting .242 with one homer and 10 RBIs.
Victorino is starting in right field and batting sixth Friday. The Red Sox will monitor his workload at the beginning, though manager John Farrell pointed to the outfielder playing five days per week as one possibility. Brock Holt is expected to bounce around the diamond with Victorino returning while continuing to garner everyday at-bats out of the leadoff spot.
Betts appeared in 10 games with Boston during his first big league stint, hitting .235 (8-for-34) with a homer and two RBIs. The 21-year-old is expected to play both the outfield and second base upon returning to Pawtucket.
[tweet https://twitter.com/ShaneVictorino/status/490557482230894592 align=’center’]
