The Red Sox have officially recalled infielder Bobby Dalbec from Triple-A Worcester, the club announced prior to Monday’s series opener against the Rays at Tropicana Field.
Dalbec will take the roster spot of outfielder Adam Duvall, who was placed on the 10-day injured list with a distal radius fracture in his left wrist. The 27-year-old flew from Buffalo to St. Petersburg to to join the Red Sox after Duvall suffered the injury in the ninth inning of Sunday’s 4-1 win over the Tigers in Detroit.
Dalbec was optioned to Worcester before the start of the season after failing to make Boston’s Opening Day roster out of spring training. In his first seven games with the WooSox, though, the right-handed hitter went 6-for-23 (.261) with one double, one triple, one home run, five RBIs, six runs scored, four walks, and 10 strikeouts. He put up those numbers while making three starts at first base, one start at third base, and two starts at shortstop.
Because they are slated to face a plethora of left-handed starters in their next two series against the Rays and Angels, the Red Sox elected to call up Dalbec as opposed to the left-handed hitting Jarren Duran even though Duran would have filled a need in the outfield.
“He’s a right-handed hitter and we can use him at first base, at third base,” manager Alex Cora said of Dalbec. “We’re here in Tampa with this turf, you know, so maybe we can give Raffy (Devers) a day (off) at third base and just use (Dalbec) that way.”
Cora added that Dalbec will get some reps at shortstop alongside Christian Arroyo and Yu Chang since Enrique Hernandez will start playing more center field in Duvall’s absence. The 6-foot-4, 227-pounder could also see some time in the outfield, something he has never done before in his professional career.
“I mean, just come here and be ready,” Cora said in regards to the message he sent to Dalbec. “There’s a few things that we’re doing that we want to continue doing. It starts in the clubhouse and preparation in the dugout and all that and be ready. He’s always ready.
“He was swinging the bat well the last few days down there (in Worcester),” added Cora. “Hopefully whenever he gets a chance, he can just keep doing the things he was doing.”
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