6 years agoBoston Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts will remain the leadoff hitter, according to manager Alex Cora in an interview with Jon Morosi on MLB Network Radio. Andrew Benintendi was expected to assume the leadoff duties this year, so he spent all of spring training to work on his plate discipline. He hit there for the first three games of the season until Saturday, when he fouled a ball off his knee, pushing Betts back into the role for the past two contests where he has gone 1-for-9, with the only hit being a solo home run. Cora also mentioned that the lineup could see some shifting around again once Dustin Pedroia (knee) and Steve Pearce (calf) return from the Injured List. Betts was the Sox' leadoff hitter last season and won the American League MVP, so it shouldn't be a hard transition for the 26-year-old superstar. The Red Sox are in the middle of a four-game series with Oakland and are set to face two right-handed starting pitchers over the coming days, where Betts will hopefully be able to jump start the 1-4 ball club.--Steve Janik - RotoBaller
Source: Jon Morosi