It’s been a long time for Daniel Nava, but the 27-year-old former independent league player has made it.

Sox Prospects is reporting that Josh Reddick has been sent down for Nava. Not only has Nava thoroughly dominated minor league competition in his time with the Red Sox’s farm system (.342/.434/.545 in 1,187 plate appearances with 314 of those in independent baseball — the Chico Outlaws of the GOBL in 2007 at age 24) but he has proven in his first season at Triple-A Pawtucket that he deserves a promotion.

The 5-foot-10 switch-hitter has a strong arm, average speed and tremendous plate discipline. He batted .294 with a .364 OBP and .492 slugging percentage for Pawtucket in 2010. He will be a better “jack-of-all-trades” outfielder for the Sox. Reddick, meanwhile, has loads of talent but has yet to prove his capability in not only the majors, but Triple-A.