Mookie Betts promoted to Salem

The Red Sox have promoted second baseman Mookie Betts from Low A Greenville to High A Salem, reports Salem Red Sox announcer Evan Lepler. Betts is in the Salem starting lineup for tonight's game against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (TEX), batting sixth and playing second base. 

It has been a breakout season for Betts, 20, a fifth round pick in the 2011 draft out of Overton (TN) High School. He has a solid .296/.418/.477 slash line, earning recognition as a South Atlantic League All-Star. Betts leads the league in walks with 58, and ranks in the top 10 with his .418 on-base percentage and 24 doubles. After an inconsistent April adjusting to Low A pitching, Betts had an outstanding May, hitting .356/.472/.663 and winning the SoxProspects.com Player of the Month.

Despite a diminutive stature, Betts' power has taken a big step forward in 2013. At 5-foot-9, 156 pounds, Betts had only nine extra-base hits and did not hit a home run with Lowell in 251 at-bats in 2012. This year, Betts already has 33 extra-base hits, including eight homers, while getting most of his 277 at-bats out of the Greenville lead-off spot.

Betts, who has risen to the number 22 prospect in the system by SoxProspects.com after starting the year  53rd, will join fellow 2011 high school picks Blake Swihart and Henry Owens on the Salem roster.\

Photo Credit: Mookie Betts by Kelly O'Connor

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