Will Middlebrooks May Spend Additional Time In Pawtucket

Will Middlebrooks is ready to play ball after going onto the 15-day DL with back spasms. However, at least for the time being, he won’t be playing ball in Boston. Middlebrooks started his rehab assignment on Tuesday, but yesterday, Ben Cherington made the announcement that Middlebrooks would stay in Pawtucket until he gains some positive momentum. Middlebrooks has struggled at the plate this year, and that coupled with Jose Iglesias‘s much-improved hitting makes this a perfectly reasonable decision.

May 18, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Boston Red Sox third baseman Will Middlebrooks (16) hits a single in the fifth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Although Middlebrooks has shown some power at the plate this year, his .207 isolated power is fourth on the team, he has greatly struggled at getting on base. Despite his decent power numbers, his slash line is quite lackluster at .201/.234/.408 and his .642 OPS is well below where the Red Sox would like it to be. His fielding at third base has been disappointing as well as UZR states that he has cost the Red Sox 4.2 runs.

John Farrell put in his voice on the matter last night.

"[A chance] to get his timing back, but then also let’s use this as an opportunity to get a little momentum going before he comes back. We’re hopeful that that is sooner rather than later. Saturday is still the day in which he’s first eligible to be activated. It could very well be Saturday. It could be shortly thereafter."

Overall, this is a move that makes sense for the Red Sox. Jose Iglesias (.426/.455/.574, 0.8 runs saved) and Stephen Drew (.234/.333/.418, 4.4 runs saved) are holding down the fort just fine on the left side of the infield. As soon as Middlebrooks begins to really see the ball well in Triple-A, or as soon as Jose Iglesias begins to struggle in the majors, Middlebrooks should be back. It’s not a concerning move at all, hopefully when Middlebrooks does return he plays like the rookie we saw last year.