May 12, 2009 at 10:25 PM
Velazquez gets the call as Youkilis goes on DL
Gil Velazquez is headed back to Boston, this time to replace Kevin Youkilis. According to Adam Kilgore of Boston.com, Youkilis has been placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 5 with an injury to his left oblique. He has not played since May 4 in New York but still leads the American League in batting average, hitting .393/.505/.719 with 6 home runs and 20 RBI to start the season. His 1.224 OPS also tops the charts in the junior circuit so far in 2009. Velazquez, his replacement, was hitting .207/.270/.241 in 58 at bats with Triple-A Pawtucket before getting the call to the major leagues. The 29-year-old veteran of 12 minor league campaigns will be making his second stint with Boston this season, having gone 0 for 2 during his first call up from April 13 through April 26. He is expected to provide depth off the Boston bench, with Jeff Bailey likely to get the lion's share of the starts at first base in Youkilis's absence.