Red Sox infield prospect Xander Bogaerts could be quietly getting himself prepared for a potential call up to man third base for Boston down the stretch. Bogaerts made his fifth start at third base for Triple-A Pawtucket Monday night, the Boston Globe reports.
The 20-year-old Bogaerts, who entered the season as the No. 8 prospect in the majors, according to Baseball America, is batting .273 on the year at Triple-A over 143 at-bats after a promotion from Double-A Portland earlier in the season. Bogaerts is batting .306 over his last 10 games with Pawtucket.
"Xander's doing everything that he can to tell us when he's ready to come to the big leagues," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "Whether that's this week or next month, that's still in the debate or in the conversation. But it's an exciting young player. We're all looking forward to the day he begins his career, not knowing when that's going to be. There's still some things that are a work in progress for him defensively. Any time you go up against more veteran and accomplished pitching, that's going to be another adjustment on his part. He's a pretty exciting player."