June 7, 2009 at 8:39 PM
Bates promoted to Pawtucket, Reddick back from DL
Sometimes a hot start simply cannot be ignored. After posting a .370/.456/.602 line in 108 at-bats during the month of May and continuing that hot streak into June, Kevin Thomas of the Portland Press Herald is reporting that Aaron Bates has been promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket. Bates, who earned SoxProspects.com Player of the Month honors for his May performance, has dominated Eastern League pitchers to the tune of .340/.405./.505 on the season, including 13 doubles, 7 home runs, 39 RBI, and 41 runs scored. A third-round pick by the Red Sox in the 2006 draft out of North Carolina State, Bates has hit a combined .301/.400/.486 with 53 home runs and 257 RBI in his three plus seasons in the organization. The big righthanded hitter began his professional career as a first baseman before transitioning to left field to begin this season.Replacing Bates on the Portland roster will be outfielder Josh Reddick, who got off to a good .288/.358/.644 start to the season before going on the disabled list on May 6 with an injured oblique. Reddick had homered in his first four games to start the season and had accumulated 6 total home runs before the injury. The lefthanded hitter is currently the organization's sixth ranked prospect according to SoxProspects.com.