TAMPA, Fla. — The Boston Red Sox have called up infielder Michael Chavis from Triple-A Pawtucket on Friday as the team prepares to take on the first-place Tampa Bay Rays this weekend.
Chavis, 23, has yet to appear in a regular season game in the majors, but is listed as the Red Sox top prospect by MLB.com. And while he has yet to play in a major league game, Chavis did show encouraging signs of success in major league Spring Training this year.
Playing in 11 games this past February and March, Chavis racked up six hits – four of which were home runs – and drove in 10 total runs. He also scored six runs himself, walked twice and totaled a .273 batting average.
This season with Pawtucket, Chavis has batted .250, going 10-for-40 at the dish. Of those 10 hits, the Georgia native has homered four times – three of which came in his last five games – and added a pair of doubles. He will wear number 23 with the Red Sox, the same number that Blake Swihart wore before he was designated for assignment Tuesday.
Versatility is a skill the Red Sox seem to be in great need of at the moment. Second baseman and clubhouse leader Dustin Pedroia has been recently placed on the 10-day injured list after reaggravating his plagued left knee.
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Eduardo Núñez, who has played games at multiple infield positions, was also placed on the 10-day IL with a mid-back strain retroactive to April 18.
Brock Holt continues to be sidelined with an eye injury that’s kept him out of the lineup since April 5.
While Chavis has spent most of his time at third base with the Sox organization (249 starts), he does have some experience at the three other infield positions. Drafted in the first round by Boston in 2014, Chavis has played a dozen games at first base, 14 at shortstop and five at second base.
Fellow Pawtucket infielder Tzu-Wei Lin was also recalled to Boston, the club announced on Friday. Lin has played 14 games at second base across two seasons with the Red Sox, while appearing in 45 others at either shortstop, third base or center field.
The Red Sox also announced on Friday that pitcher Erasmo Ramirez was designated for assignment. The right-hander appeared in just one game for Boston in 2019, allowing four runs on four hits, including one home run, against the Yankees back on April 16.
Related: Red Sox place Pedroia on injured list with knee irritation
Boston (6-13) begins a three-game series at Tampa Bay (14-5) Friday at 7:10 p.m. with Eduardo Rodriguez (1-2) expected to take the hill for the Red Sox.
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