Red Sox Prospect Reportedly Taking Ground Balls At First Base

The Boston Red Sox were among the teams rumored to be searching for upgrades at first base before Major League Baseball’s trade deadline last week. But when final deals were announced last Thursday, it appeared the team was comfortable sticking with the platoon of Abraham Toro and Romy González for the remainder of the season.

According to a social media post from Tommy Cassell of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, the Red Sox’s No. 2-ranked prospect, Jhostynxon Garcia, has shown a willingness to learn first base. The power-hitting outfielder has impressed during his 54 games with the Worcester Red Sox since being promoted to Triple-A earlier this season, and is batting .305 with 18 home runs and 61 RBIs over 330 at-bats.

“Jhostynxon Garcia did introductory turf work on Sunday with the WooSox and then worked around the bag today with WooSox coaches to ramp up the possibility of ‘The Password’ playing 1B in the future,” said Cassell.

Garcia is the latest Red Sox prospect to gain experience at first base after Kristian Campbell made his debut at the position with the WooSox last month. With Boston’s crowded outfield mix providing a roadblock to a promotion this season, a successful transition to first base could give the Red Sox an excuse to add Garcia’s powerful bat to the big league lineup for the final month of the season, when rosters expand to 28 players on September 1.

The Red Sox traded first base prospect Blaze Jordan to the St. Louis Cardinals to acquire left-handed reliever Steven Matz before the trade deadline.