RADIO
Shortly before opening day, the Boston Red Sox decided to option Jackie Bradley Jr. and Cuban defector Rusney Castillo to Triple-A Pawtucket, according to Reuters.
Boston looks to bounce back from finishing last in the AL East a season ago. The Red Sox will start the season without two players that were expected to contribute right away. For the time being, both guys will get more seasoning in the minors.
"Both guys have had very good springs," Red Sox manager John Farrell told MLB.com. "With Rusney's situation, he obviously he missed a little bit of time because of the oblique. But he's done everything we've asked of him. That goes back to the day we assigned him to the Winter League in which he participated in, to the way he played in Spring Training. He's an exciting young player."
Optioning Castillo to Triple-A was more surprising because he was just signed to a seven-year, $72.5 million contract last August after leaving his home country of Cuba. He saw some playing time in September last season, but is one of two prospects not playing for the big league club to start the 2015 season.
"He's going to play both right and center field in Pawtucket," Farrell told MLB.com. "The everyday at-bats are part of this, certainly, so is the depth and the overall roster we have here with us. The one thing he has yet to do since coming to the States is play every day for an extended period of time, so that's all factored in."
Thanks to a clogged outfield, both will get an opportunity to play every day in Triple-A. Bradley started most games for Boston at centerfield last season. His defense was outstanding, but he struggled at the plate, hitting only .198 with one home run and 30 RBIs in 384 at-bats.
