Will Middlebrooks (Photo by Jelly O’Connor via SittingStill.smugmug.com)
After a MRI on his right calf early Sunday morning, Will Middlebrooks was immediately placed on the 15-day disabled list with a Grade 1 calf strain. The third baseman was originally scratched from Saturday’s lineup with calf cramps during pre-game warmups.
As a result, utility infielder Brock Holt was added to the 25-man roster and recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket Sunday morning as Jonathan Herrera received his second straight start at third.
Herrera is a great glove to have, but the lack of power now in this Red Sox lineup will make it even harder to score runs with both Middlebrooks and Shane Victorino out for an extended amount of time.
Middlebrooks had hit well in his previous two games with a .500 average to go with a home run, double, one walk and a strikeout after an 0-for-7 start. He is batting .231 with only three hits in 13 at-bats.
However, John Farrell does expect the 25-year-old to be ready to go right as his stint on the DL runs out in two weeks, according to the Boston Red Sox Twitter feed.
Farrell on Middlebrooks absence: Missing a power RH bat. He’ll be back on field when he’s first available, but its not for another 2 weeks.
— Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) April 6, 2014