BOSTON — The Red Sox are back to having four players on their bench.
Starter Roenis Elias was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket on Friday after getting shelled by the Seattle Mariners, and outfielder Rusney Castillo went with him. The Red Sox announced Saturday that infielder Deven Marrero and outfielder Ryan LaMarre were called up as a result.
“Ryan LaMarre has been swinging the bat well in Triple-A,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said before Saturday’s game against the Mariners. “He’s given us the ability also to play all three outfield positions. It felt like with all of the inconsistency — this is a difficult role, and for a young player to come up into this, felt like sending Rusney back, there was the need for more regular at-bats, get him on track. Deven can play all three infield positions, as well, so they give us some versatility, some flexibility inside a given game.”
LaMarre, 27, signed with the Sox as a minor league free agent on Dec. 14, 2015, and this will be his first stint with the big-league club. He hit .313 with eight doubles, six home runs, 19 RBIs, 24 runs, and 11 stolen bases in Pawtucket.
Marrero, who was batting .216 with nine doubles, one triple and 17 RBIs, has turned a corner recently and can provide solid defense.
“The biggest thing with Deven is maintaining a consistent approach,” Farrell said. “He’s a guy that’s toyed with a number of different changes, from approach to set up. Felt like prior to his recall last year, he was really settling into that, and I thought performed well here when he was with us last season, so that’s been a work in progress. Defensively, he’s accomplished at all three infield positions.”
Thumbnail photo via Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports Images
