The Red Sox plan to add one position player and one pitcher Sunday, the first day of September. Who will the position player be?
Red Sox' Vaughn Grissom is 10 for his last 20 at Worcester. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)AP
Active MLB rosters are able to expand from 26 players to 28 players during September.
Manager Alex Cora recently mentioned the possibility of wanting to add a versatile right-handed hitter to balance out the roster. The Red Sox are very left-handed hitter heavy.
Right-handed hitting prospect Kristian Campbell — who has made starts at shortstop, center field, second base and third base this season — fits that description. But he is not being considered a Sept. 1 call-up candidate, according to a team source.
The 22-year-old recently earned a promotion to Triple-A Worcester where he is 10-for-33 (.303 batting average) with a .410 on-base percentage, .606 slugging percentage, 1.016 OPS, three homers, one double, 12 RBIs, 10 runs, six walks and five strikeouts in eight games.
He has a .336/.442/.575/1.017 line with 19 homers, 31 doubles, three triples, 72 RBIs, 87 runs, 67 walks, 90 strikeouts and 22 steals between High-A Greenville (40 games), Double-A Portland (56 games) and Worcester (eight games) this season.
He could eventually emerge as a call-up candidate as September progresses. Cora said adjustments at those two extra September spots might be made throughout the month based on matchups. That seems certain at the pitcher spot. Liam Hendriks (who pitched a scoreless inning rehabbing for Worcester on Friday) is targeting a Sept. 6 return.
Trevor Story, who will begin a rehab Sunday, eventually will need a spot if things go well and he’s able to return. But it doesn’t seem likely he’ll be available for at least a couple weeks.
The Red Sox have four position players — Enmanuel Valdez, Bobby Dalbec, Vaughn Grissom and Tyler Heineman — on their 40-man roster who are not currently on their active roster.
Valdez has appeared in 60 games (recorded 189 plate appearances) for Boston this year. He seems like the most likely position player candidate on the 40-man roster despite him being a left-handed hitter. The Red Sox just lost David Hamilton, a left-handed hitter, to a finger fracture. They promoted switch-hitter Nick Sogard to take Hamilton’s spot and Valdez is a candidate for a Sunday call-up.
Dalbec, Grissom and Heineman all hit from the right side. Heineman, a switch-hitting catcher, doesn’t seem likely because Boston already has three catchers (Connor Wong, Danny Jansen and Mickey Gasper) on the active roster.
The Red Sox optioned Grissom to Worcester after reinstating him from the IL (hamstring) Aug. 8. The 23-year-old has had two IL stints this year. The Red Sox planned for him to be their Opening Day second baseman before he injured his other hamstring during spring training. He has struggled down at Triple A (.246/.352/.333/.685) but he has 10 hits in his past 20 at-bats.
Would the Red Sox consider promoting Grissom on Sunday or do they want him to continue to keep working on things and making progress at Worcester?
“There’s a lot of guys in the conversation,” Cora said, not directly answering whether Grissom is a candidate.
What has Grissom done better of late?
“We put a program (together) for him a month and a half ago,” Cora said. “He’s been not swinging and missing in the strike zone. Hitting the ball a little bit harder than earlier. He’s been pretty disciplined. So when you start doing that stuff, you start getting results.”
Cora said several factors come into play when deciding September call-ups.
“But I think at the end of the day, we’re going to get the guys that we do believe can help us as soon as possible,” Cora said. “And if we have to pivot from that, then we will. But I’m excited about it. I’m excited where we’re at. It’s 3 ½ games back with a lot of games to play.”
Prospect Chase Meidroth, a right-handed hitter not on the 40-man roster, has been an on-base machine for Worcester this year but his slugging percentage is below his OBP. He has a .303 batting average, .450 on-base percentage and .423 slugging percentage in 107 games (493 plate appearances). The Red Sox wanted to see more impact in his offensive game and he has provided it in August (.542 slugging percentage, two homers, three triples, one double, 19 games).
The 23-year-old has played second, shortstop and third base this year. He is not on the 40-man roster.
Jamie Westbrook, who also is not on the 40-man roster, is a right-handed hitting option as well. He has appeared in 21 games for Boston this year but he has batted only .150.
It’s unlikely Hamilton (33 stolen bases) returns mainly as a pinch running specialist when he’s eligible.
“If we use him running-wise, it can put him in a bad spot and then he might need to have surgery,” Cora said.
