Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Tell a friend: Grady Sizemore is coming north with the Boston Red Sox and will be in center field when they open up against the Baltimore Orioles on Monday.
Manager John Farrell announced Friday that Jackie Bradley, Sizemore’s main competition for the starting nod, will head back to Pawtucket to start the season. Bradley struggled with the Grapefruit League slate, batting just .158 with 17 K’s. But all is not lost:
Jackie Bradley Jr. has all of 80 career games under his belt at Triple-A. Pedroia, FWIW, got twice that many. Still plenty of time for JBJ.
— Jon Couture (@JonCouture) March 28, 2014
Given Sizemore’s injury history, the veteran is expected to play four to six games a week to start the season; no more than three in a row. This highlights a need for a sub on those off days — will it be Shane Victorino, who formerly manned the position for the Phillies and Dodgers? Will it be Daniel Nava, who Farrell announced yesterday will hit leadoff against righthanded starters?
Sizemore will be slotted lower in the order, to reduce the physical stress of getting back into the game after two years on the shelf and five years removed from his previous All-Star status. He could return to the top of the order as time goes on.
Reliever Craig Breslow was placed on the 15-day DL yesterday, retroactive to March 21. The move was expected, but adds further mystery to the competition for the last spot in the bullpen. Steven Wright joins Breslow on the shelf after hernia surgery.
Francisco Cordero is looking to get in touch with his agent to discuss options, per Alex Speier, as it has become clear the 38-year old former relief ace will be assigned to Pawtucket. “Frank the Tank,” a fantasy league staple of mine for years, pitched eight scoreless innings with eight strikeouts this spring.
And finally, old friend Ryan Kalish made the Cubs Opening Day roster. The talented outfielder had a Sizemore-like run of injuries during his time in the Red Sox organization and hopefully he can parlay this opportunity into something great.
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