Stephen Drew may debut for Red Sox June 2
By Matt Fisher
The ongoing saga that is Stephen Drew’s return to action finally has a potential end date.
Ian Browne of MLB.com says that the earliest that Drew can play on the big league club is on June 2nd. The Red Sox had activated him to their 25-man upon signing, but needed to send him to the minors to get back into game. Drew has to stay in the minors for 10 days because of the limitations imposed by optioning him down. He can move through the minor league system, though, and he has started with the Single-A club and should be in either Double- or Triple-A by the end of next week.
The club’s plan is to progress with the number of innings Drew plays in. He started on Friday with five innings and will progress to seven by the time he leaves Single-A. Manager John Farrell says that the plan to get their ‘new’ shortstop 20-25 at-bats before he joins the big league club. Barring any unforseen circumstances, Drew’s debut would come at the start of a three-game set with Baltimore.
The Red Sox made a surprise move by re-signing Stephen Drew, who was their shortstop for last season. They had re-iterated that they were committed to Xander Bogaerts at short during Spring Training and belied no intention of talking with Drew’s agent Scott Boras about the 31-year old. A couple of factors may have influenced the decision to move forward with signing Drew, who has been working out at Boras’ training complex. The Boston offense has been struggling as of late as the team sits in the AL East cellar, and third baseman Will Middlebrooks has been placed on the disabled list with a fractured finger.
The plan once Drew gets up to Boston is uncertain, but Bogaerts could move to third base with Drew at third.