BOSTON — If there’s any consolation from the Red Sox’s loss to the Kansas City Royals on Sunday night, it’s that another one of their top prospects could make his Major League Baseball debut in 2016.
Before the Royals trounced the Red Sox 10-4 on Sunday night, Boston manager John Farrell talked about the possibility of the club calling up Yoan Moncada in September when the rosters expand. The Red Sox haven’t made a decision yet, but they’re discussing how the infielder could fit into the puzzle down the stretch.
“I would say the talk around Yoan has been about moving obviously to third base,” Farrell said before the game at Fenway Park. “He’s just getting some reps at that position. Whether or not he comes up in a role that would be either mixed in, he’s obviously been much better as a left-handed hitter this year, if he’s mixed in in that capacity, does he give you a base-stealing threat coming off the bench as a possibility?
“Those are the types of things that we talked about. Whether or not he comes up here is yet to be determined. We know he’s an exciting young player with tremendous talent, but whether that time is 2016 or some time after, that’s yet to be determined.”
Moncada has been rising through the ranks this season and currently is batting .286 with a .941 OPS, 36 runs, 11 home runs and 27 RBI in 43 games for the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs. And while the Red Sox are in greater need of bullpen arms right now, it’s still safe to say they wouldn’t get worse with Moncada around.
Thumbnail photo via Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports Images
