Downs makes debut
Hitless in 11-5 loss to the O’s
SARASOTA, Fla. — On the day Mookie Betts made his Dodgers exhibition debut in Glendale, Arizona, the biggest name in the Red Sox lineup was Jeter Downs, one of three players acquired in exchange for Betts, David Price and half of the left-handed pitcher’s remaining contract.
Playing shortstop and batting fifth in an 11-5 exhibition loss to the Orioles at sunny Ed Smith Stadium, Downs went 0-for-3 Sunday. He flied out to right leading off the second, grounded back to the pitcher for the final out of the fourth, and struck out for the final out of the sixth to strand Jarren Duran (2-for-3, triple) at second base.
Downs’ results were of little consequence to the main purpose of him getting experience with the big-league club as a non-roster invitee to camp. He is not competing for a big-league job. Simply being here, the hope of the organization is, will benefit the middle infielder who was drafted in the first round by the Reds and then dealt to the Dodgers.
“The main thing is to be along with these guys so that when he gets a chance again the intimidation isn’t there being with these big-leaguers and he’s comfortable,” Red Sox interim manager
Ron Roenicke said. “When these guys come into the big leagues and they’re comfortable, they perform really well. So hopefully we get him to the point where you’re confident with his game, but (also) the confidence that he belongs here and the guys accept him and he’s comfortable.”
It also gives the manager a chance to form his own opinion on the prospect’s prospects.
“Any time somebody from somewhere else the organization has really good things to say about (a prospect), it’s fun for us to see basically what they see and we get to see how it plays out with the rest of us,” Roenicke said.
Downs said veterans already have made it easy on him to fit in.
“Totally easy. They’ve been really good to me,” Downs said. “All these guys have been really cool and they welcomed me with open arms, and I’ve talked to most of the guys so far already. It’s been a really cool experience so far.”
Pedroia on 60-day IL
The Red Sox claimed righthander Phillips Valdez off of waivers from the Mariners. Valdez, 28, pitched in the big leagues for the first time last season with the Rangers. In 11 appearances covering 16 innings, Valdez walked nine, struck out 18 and posted a 3.94 ERA. A native of San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, Valdez has split time between starting and relieving during his time in the minors.
To make room for Valdez on the 40-man roster, the Sox placed second baseman
Dustin Pedroia on the 60-day injured list. Signed through 2021, Pedroia has been limited to nine games the past two seasons and his injured knee, which has jeopardized his career, has not responded well to multiple surgeries.
“The knee’s still not right, so this move was going to be made,” Roenicke said. “We’ll touch base with him here shortly and see how he’s doing.”
Duran, Duran
Sox left-handed-hitting outfield prospect Jarren Duran stood out at the plate, on the bases and in the field during Sunday’s exhibition. He showed good speed running the bases on a deep triple to center, made a nice catch against the wall in center and went 2-for-3.
Duran was a seventhround draft choice in 2018 out of Long Beach State.
“Exciting player that tool-wise is as good as it gets,” Roenicke said. “And that type of player, I mean, he’s thrilling to watch. We saw him run a little last year because he hit a couple of gappers for us, but today was pretty fun to watch him run to third. It’s just the tools, he’s one of those special guys you know that if it all comes together you’ve got a superstar.”
Duran split last season between Single-A Salem and Double-A Portland, played 132 games, scored 90 runs and posted a .775 OPS. He struck out 128 times.
Smooth Sale-ing
Chris Sale had a “really good bullpen” at Sox headquarters Sunday, according to what pitching coach Dave Bush told Roenicke about the lefty who had been set back by pneumonia.
“So I think we can move on,” Roenicke said. “We’ll probably have a conversation with him tomorrow… and then we’ll plan what he’s going to do next. We’ll probably throw him another bullpen, but it will be an up and down so we’ll rest him in between and keep progressing him, see what he’s thinking. He’ll hear what we’re thinking and try to come up with something that makes sense.”
E-Rod on mending
Roenicke said Eduardo Rodriguez came out of his Saturday bullpen session “really well” and added that his progress back from a sore knee will be checked again Monday, when he is scheduled to pitch in simulated game conditions on a back field. If all goes well there, he’ll be scheduled to join the rotation, possibly Saturday.
Shortstop Xander Bogaerts’ exhibition debut could fall at about the same time as Rodriguez’s.
“He’s coming along,” Roenicke said. “Obviously, we would like to see him out here already, but the foot’s getting better all the time and he’s hitting in the cages.”