Red Sox Activate Mitch Moreland and Bizarrely Option Marco Hernandez
By Parker White
On Tuesday, the Boston Red Sox activated first baseman Mitch Moreland from the 10-day injured list. Makes sense. He's one of this team's clutch leaders.
Boston needed to make room on the active roster, which is why they optioned...infielder Marco Hernandez to Triple-A Pawtucket? Really?
Prior to tonight’s game at TB, the #RedSox returned 1B Mitch Moreland from his injury rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket and reinstated him from the 10-day IL.
— Red Sox (@RedSox) July 23, 2019
To make room for Moreland on the 25-man roster, the club optioned INF Marco Hernández to Pawtucket.
Moreland has had two IL stints this season, the latest beginning back in late May because of a quad strain. When healthy, the 33-year-old first baseman was putting up some impressive power numbers, slashing .225/.316/.543 with 13 home runs and 34 RBI over 47 games.
Consistency wasn't always there, but he crushed the ball pretty regularly. Unfortunately, he went 0-for-13 during his rehab assignment at Pawtucket, while Hernandez thrived in the bigs.
Marco Hernandez: .339/.359/.500 with 123 wRC+ in 27 games gets optioned.
— J.R. Leandre (@realJRLeandre) July 23, 2019
Mitch Moreland: 0/13 with a walk in 4 games w Pawtucket gets activated.
Sam Travis: .205/.222/.364 with 43 wRC+ in 16 games stays on roster.
Must be an options thing for the #RedSox, right?
Hernandez provided a lot of defensive versatility for this Red Sox team, and in 27 games (62 at-bats), he slashed .339/.359/.500 with two home runs and seven RBI.
Moreland's activation comes on the heels of rookie Michael Chavis dealing with back spasms that could lead to an IL stint as well. Gee, would a versatile infielder who can hit help mitigate that loss at all?