May 25, 2013 at 3:34 PM
Weekly Notes: Iglesias and Aceves promoted
Here are this week's minor league notes:
-Jose Iglesias (pictured) and pitcher Alfredo Aceves were promoted from Triple-A Pawtucket Friday as the Red Sox placed Will Middlebrooks and Shane Victorino on the disabled list. Iglesias' call came the same week he debuted at third base, and the Cuban is believed to receive the lion's share of playing time at the position vacated by Middlebrooks. Moving the 23-year-old is not a sign the team is considering converting him into a utility infielder, writes Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal. In four starts with the PawSox since being demoted, Aceves, 31, went 2-1 with a 3.13 ERA.
-The Red Sox also demoted catcher Ryan Lavarnway, who was filling in for the injured David Ross. Lavarnway appeared in three games for the big league club, collecting two hits in eight at-bats.
-Jackie Bradley Jr. returned from from the 7-day disabled list Friday after being out with bicep tendinitis. The PawSox will ease Bradley back into the lineup and will be carefully monitor his progress, according to manager Gary DiSarcina. Bradley told SoxProspects.com's Kevin Pereira that "everything's back to normal."
-The Portland SeaDogs will take on the Harrisburg Senators (WAS) at noon on Saturday, July 27 at Fenway Park for "Futures at Fenway." Based on the Sea Dogs' current roster, a number of the SoxProspect.com Top 20 will see action at Fenway: shortstop Xander Bogaerts (No. 1), right-handed pitchers Matt Barnes (No. 4), Anthony Randaudo (No. 11) and Brandon Workman
(No. 12), left-hander Drake Britton (No. 16) and catcher Christian Vazquez (No. 18). There will not be a double header like in past years.
-Rubby De La Rosa is finding his way in Pawtucket, writes Matt Huegel for ESPNBoston.com. Huegel writes that De La Rosa's fourth start of the season was a turning point for the right-hander, as he has not allowed an earned run in 22 in 18 innings since that outing. While it looked like things had turned around, De La Rosa was scratched from his scheduled start this week due to an intercostal strain.
-Allen Webster out-dueled Pittsburgh Pirates top prospect Gerrit Cole in a clash of top pitching prospects at McCoy Stadium this week, writes Paul Kenyon of the Providence Journal. Webster only surrendered one hit over five plus innings, while Cole, who gave up eight earned runs, had a less memorable day.
-Daniel Bard has been shut down by the Red Sox and will only pitch in bullpen sessions until the team believes he is ready for game action, according to Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe. He last appeared in a game on May 15. In 12 2/3 innings for Portland, Bard gave up nine earned runs on 13 hits and 17 walks.
-The Red Sox signed veteran left-hander Rafael Perez to a minor-league contract. Perez was released by the Minnesota Twins two weeks ago, and has been assigned to Double-A Portland.
-Greenville Drive second baseman Mookie Betts and right-hander Matt Price took home Player of the Week honors for the week of May 13-19. It is the second week in a row Betts has been recognized. The 20-year-old is riding a 18-game hitting streak, and has slugged six home runs during that span. Price, 20, pitched five innings of relief during the week, striking out seven.
-After a short hiatus, the SoxProspects.com podcast is back with the 34th edition. Chris Hatfield, Jon Meoli and Matt Huegel discuss De La Rosa, Xander Bogaerts, and Garin Cecchini, and also hit on what Mookie Betts is doing down in Greenville.
Photo Credit: Jose Iglesias by Kelly O'Connor.
Luke Lavoie is a Staff Writer for SoxProspects.com. Follow him on Twitter @LukeALavoie.