Yoan Moncada expresses patience as Red Sox prepare his path to the majors
The 21 year-old phenom has impressed since being called up to Double-A Portland.
The Red Sox sit two games back of the first place Orioles in the AL East, but are they preparing to unleash their secret weapon?
Cuban prodigy Yoan Moncada recently began working out at third base with Portland manager Carlos Febles, and general manager Mike Hazen attributed the decision to the fact that Moncada has been exceeding expectations at the plate. Moncada had been playing second base, where he is blocked by Dustin Pedroia for the foreseeable future.
“The fact that he’s come as fast as he has, you are forced to readjust,” Hazen told the Boston Herald. Hazen also noted that the Red Sox had to follow a similar course of action with Mookie Betts, who was also a second baseman before moving to the outfield. “We’ve had to do this before. And it’s a good problem to have when the players force the issue.”
The team recently called up Andrew Benintendi, another top prospect, under similar circumstances after the natural centerfielder was moved to left field, where he would be of use to the big league team. Hazen said he wouldn’t guess whether Moncada would follow Benintendi to the major league roster this season, and warned that the two players come from different situations.
“I know everybody tries to link these guys, but they’re not linked at all,” Hazen said.
Even though the two players were promoted to Portland just a month apart, it should be noted that Benintendi is a year older than Moncada, and that the difference in positions (one an outfielder, the other an infielder) could lead to different timetables for adjustment. “We treat each guy individually and their path is going to be reflected in that,” he said.
Moncada, for his part, has denied that he is eyeing a call-up despite Benintendi’s promotion. “I feel happy for him,” he said of Benintendi,via WEEI.com. “It’s good for him. He’s a good teammate. But when my time comes, it’s going to be my time. I’m not in a rush for anything.” He also likened the move to third base to riding a bike, noting that he played the position in Cuba for two years.
In the meantime, Red Sox fans will need to be patient and wait for the team to decide that Moncada is ready to advance.
Your @SiriusXM #FuturesGame MVP: @MLBPipeline No. 5 overall prospect @ymoncada19. https://t.co/hGT0PWOGIL
— MLB (@MLB) July 11, 2016
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