May 26, 2014 at 1:22 PM
Travis Shaw promoted to Pawtucket
First baseman Travis Shaw has been promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket, reports Kevin Thomas of The Portland Press Herald. The move highlights a series of maneuvers the Red Sox organization made on Sunday. The team recalled first baseman/catcher Ryan Lavarnway from Pawtucket, and optioned reliever Alex Wilson after Sunday's game. Pitcher Steven Wright, on the 60-day disabled list with a sports hernia, will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Portland.
Shaw, 24, earned the promotion with a strong .305/.406/.548 line in his repeat engagement with the Eastern League. Shaw had appeared in 205 games for Portland since he was promoted from Salem in 2012. He struggled some with contact in 2013, as 117 strikeouts limited his overall line to .221/.342/.394, but he took a major step forward in that department this season, with only 23 strikeouts in 208 plate appearances. Shaw also showed a significant boost in power, as his 11 home runs and 37 RBI placed him third in the Eastern League.
A ninth-round pick in the 2011 draft out of Kent St., Shaw is the son of former major league reliever Jeff Shaw. The elder Shaw was a two-time major league All-Star, and the younger followed in his footsteps as a Carolina League All-Star with a .305/.411/.545 performance in 2012.
Lavarnway has appearend in 88 major league games going back to 2011. Primarily a catcher in previous season, he has seen most of his playing time in 2014 at first base and designated hitter. With Mike Napoli going on the disabled list, Lavarnway is expected to serve in the role of backup first baseman and right-handed pinch hitter. He was hitting .265/.357/.346 for the PawSox.
Wilson rejoins Pawtucket after his second short stint with the major league squad. He pitched a scoreless inning in Sunday's loss to Tampa Bay. In 19 innings out of the Pawtucket bullpen, Wilson has a 1.42 ERA and 21 strikeouts.
Wright has spent the entire 2014 season on the major league disabled list after suffering a sports hernia in December. He is scheduled to start for Portland on Monday. Wright was acquired for Lars Anderson in July 2012, and appeared in four games with the Red Sox in 2013. He also threw 135 1/3 innings for PawSox in 24 starts, leading the staff in both categories.
Photo Credit: Travis Shaw by Kelly O'Connor