It has been a nightmarish start to the season for 25-year-old Will Middlebrooks, and it’s about to get even worse.
According WEEI.com’s Alex Speier, the Red Sox have placed the third baseman on the disabled list with a fractured finger:
WEEI’s Alex Speier provides comments from Middlebrooks:
“It’s been a long couple years. I’ve got to hang in there. Things will turn around — hopefully,” said Middlebrooks. “Just keep grinding it out.”
The play on which Middlebrooks suffered the fracture was unusual. With Middlebrooks drawn in to protect against a bunt, Kinsler smoked a ball at the third baseman.
“[Kinsler is] a guy, he’ll drop one down if you’re back. So I was playing up pretty close and he hit a screamer at me, obviously. It had some topspin. Kind of went with both hands for some reason to try to catch it. It went under my glove and just smoked me in the finger,” said Middlebrooks. “I thought it just bruised me, jammed me pretty good. It kept swelling and kept swelling throughout the game, and by the eighth I couldn’t get batting gloves on.”
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“I think I’m pretty due for [a change of fortunes],” said Middlebrooks. “We’ll see.”
As he showed during his rookie campaign in 2012, Middlebrooks has immense talent. But he has struggled to find consistency ever since and is hitting just .197/.305/.324 with a brutal 28.1 strikeout percentage on the season after already spending time on the DL with a strained calf.
Manager John Farrell recently talked about the importance of getting the youngster going at the plate, via the Boston Herald‘s Michael Silverman:
We’ll see — we certainly need him to get going. The bottom third of that order has got to find a way to contribute a little more than it’s been. So hopefully today is a chance to jump-start it somewhat for Will.
Some, such as USA Today‘s Mike Lyoko, haven’t been nearly as optimistic and believe Middlebrooks’ future with the team may be numbered:
In his stead, Brock Holt has been recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket and will take over at the hot corner starting Saturday, as Speier noted:
Holt is hitting .348/.429/.435 in 28 plate appearances for the Red Sox this season. With Middlebrooks struggling, and the Red Sox near the bottom of the AL in batting average, the former Pittsburgh Pirate has a real chance to carve out a significant role going forward.
As for Middlebrooks, he will just be hoping this newest stint on the sideline gives him time to clear his head.
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