BOSTON — With the offense still struggling to find the big hit, the Boston Red Sox lineup is apparently about to be bolstered by the return of Cuban import Rusney Castillo.
Castillo, the $72.2 million signee who was impressive in 10 games with the Sox last season, battled through nagging injuries and is currently in Miami for the birth of as child. But it shouldn’t be too much longer before he returns.
“What’s taken place is his timing, his ability to impact the baseball is starting to show up a little bit more,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said Tuesday night. “He’s returned home obviously for the birth of his child. That’s going to be a couple of days. Whether or not we allow him to get a game under his belt at Pawtucket before possibly looking at a change here, those are all possibilities.
“It’s good to see him get back on the field. The timing is there. The ability to impact the baseball, so I guess in the short, he’s doing what he can to impact a potential change.”
Castillo, who batted .333 with two homers and six RBIs in his 10 games with Boston last year, is hitting .304 with two homers and nine RBIs at Pawtucket. His return should help a lineup that scored two runs per game in the last five games of the just-completed road trip and, while scoring four runs Tuesday night, stranded 12 runners and failed to make the most out of 13 hits, including five doubles and two homers.
When Castillo returns, he’s likely to see plenty of time in right field, where Daniel Nava has been unable to hit and Shane Victorino is still working his way back into full-time
SOX NOTES: Second baseman Dustin Pedroia has reached base safely via a hit or walk in 23 consecutive games after a first inning double to left in Tuesday night’s series opener against the Texas Rangers. Pedroia’s streak is the longest active on-base streak in the American League and second in MLB behind St. Louis Cardinals OF Matt Holiday, who has reached in all 38 games he has played this season. … Infielder Yoan Moncada didn’t light the world on fire in his minor league debut with Red Sox’ Class A affiliate Greenville on Monday, going hitless in three at-bats, but the up-and-coming prospect did reach base on a walk and scored a pair of runs. “I know it was highly anticipated,” Farrell said. “We’ll see how his career unfolds.” The 19-year-old Cuban prodigy was signed to a minor league contract, reportedly worth $63 million, last February.