The Boston Red Sox dug deep into their farm system Monday for infield reinforcements, adding career minor leaguer Mike Miller to their 25-man roster ahead of a matchup with the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.
Miller has played at five levels of the Red Sox organization since being drafted in the ninth round in 2012, but this is his first major league call-up. The 26-year-old shortstop has spent the bulk of this season at Triple-A Pawtucket, posting a .256/.324/.300 slash line in 46 games for the PawSox.
Miller’s promotion came one day after Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts made the uncommon move of sharing with reporters his desire for a night off. Bogaerts has started 74 of Boston’s 75 games this season, and he went 2-for-12 with no extra-base hits during his team’s three-game weekend series against the Texas Rangers.
“I know I’m tired,” Bogaerts said after Sunday’s 6-2 loss at Globe Life Stadium, via The Boston Globe. “I can feel I’m tired. I don’t have no legs. I’m throwing the ball over there with no legs. I’m hitting with nothing right now. Most of my hits have been infield hits and bloopers, stuff like that. It’s not solid contact lately.”
Red Sox manager John Farrell sympathized with Bogaerts’ desire for rest, and the addition of Miller means the 23-year-old likely will sit out at least one of Boston’s three games against slumping Rays.
“He’s tired,” Farrell told reporters Sunday, via the Globe. “He needs a day. No other way to put it. He’s been going pretty much every game, and we need to find him a day to get off his feet.”
Bringing Miller into the fold also signified Red Sox utility man Brock Holt, who currently is rehabbing at Triple-A, is not quite ready to return to the big leagues.
To make room for Miller on the active roster, Boston optioned right-hander William Cuevas to Pawtucket.
Thumbnail photo via Reinhold Matay/USA TODAY Sports Images
