Tag: worcester red sox

Red Sox call up infield prospect Enmanuel Valdez from Triple-A Worcester, place Yu Chang on paternity list

The Red Sox have called up infield prospect Enmanuel Valdez from Triple-A Worcester, the club announced prior to Wednesday’s contest against the Twins. In order to make room for Valdez on the active roster, fellow infielder Yu Chang was placed on the paternity leave list.

Valdez, 24, is currently regarded by Baseball America as the No. 19 prospect in Boston’s farm system. The Red Sox originally acquired Valdez alongside outfield prospect Wilyer Abreu from the Astros for catcher Christian Vazquez last August.

After closing out the 2022 season with Worcester, Valdez was added to the Sox’ 40-man roster in November in order to avoid reaching minor-league free agency and becoming eligible for the Rule 5 Draft. He showed flashes of his potential in his first spring training camp with Boston by clubbing two home runs and posting a .389 on-base percentage in Grapefruit League games.

“He can hit,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said of Valdez back in February. “This kid, he can hit. He controls the strike zone. He can hit. So we’ll try to help him defensively. More comfortable at second than other places. Both of them, Abreu and Valdez, they control the strike zone. They do damage in the strike zone. I’m excited to see them.”

To begin his first full season in the Red Sox organization, Valdez has not gotten off to the best of starts offensively. In his first 11 games with the WooSox this year, the left-handed hitter has batted just .179 (7-for-39) with three doubles, one home run, six RBIs, three runs scored, one stolen base, six walks, and 15 strikeouts in 45 plate appearances.

Despite the slow start at the plate, Valdez did come through with three clutch hits (a solo homer, a game-tying double, and a walk-off single) in a 6-5 win over the Columbus Clippers at Polar Park this past Saturday. For his career at the Triple-A level, the Dominican Republic native is a lifetime .256/.323/.472 hitter with 18 home runs and 68 RBIs in 93 total games spanning 412 trips to the plate.

Defensively, Valdez has proven to be quite versatile since first signing with the Astros for $450,000 as an international free agent coming out of San Juan de la Maguana in July 2015. So far this season, the 5-foot-8, 191-pounder has seen all of his playing time come at second base. With the WooSox last year, though, he also logged 24 innings at third base and 25 innings in left field.

Valdez, who does not turn 25 until December, is slated to become the second member of the 2023 Red Sox to make their major-league debut this season, joining Japanese outfielder Masataka Yoshida. With that being said, Valdez’s first stint as a big-leaguer may not last too long.

That being the case because, according to MassLive.com’s Christopher Smith, the Red Sox promoted Valdez “with the idea it might be for only a short period of time” since he is only replacing Chang while his counterpart is out on paternity leave. Chang and his wife, Ling, are expecting the birth of their second child soon.

Regardless of the circumstances, Valdez’s first call-up comes at a fitting time since Vazquez is in town with the Twins. As he prepares to make his big-league debut on Wednesday night, Valdez will be batting ninth and starting at second base for the Red Sox.

First pitch from Fenway Park is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. eastern time on NESN+ and MLB Network.

(Picture of Enmanuel Valdez: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox activate Brayan Bello, call up Jarren Duran in flurry of roster moves

Before wrapping up a four-game series against the Angels at Fenway Park on Monday morning, the Red Sox made a flurry of roster moves.

Boston reinstated right-hander Brayan Bello from the 15-day injured list and recalled outfielder Jarren Duran from Triple-A Worcester. In order to make room for Bello and Duran on the active roster, righty Jake Faria was designated for assignment while infielder Bobby Dalbec was optioned to Worcester, the club announced.

Bello will make his first start of the season in Monday’s series finale against Los Angeles. The 23-year-old began the 2023 campaign on the injured list after being shut down by right forearm tightness during the early stages of spring training.

Though he began the season on the injured list, Bello was never expected to be sidelined for long. He pitched in an extended spring training game down in Fort Myers and April 5 and made one rehab start for the WooSox at Polar Park last Tuesday.

In that outing, Bello allowed just one earned run on four hits, zero walks, and one hit batsman to go along with four strikeouts over six innings on 81 pitches (50 strikes). The Dominican-born hurler has the green light to pitch six innings again on Monday as he goes up against Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani.

Faria, meanwhile, spent one day on the big-league roster after having his contract selected from Worcester on Saturday. The Red Sox will have the next seven days to either trade, release, or waive the 29-year-old. If he goes unclaimed and clears waivers, Faria can refuse an outright assignment to the minor-leagues in favor of free agency since he has previously been outrighted.

Turning to the position players now, Dalbec was called up on April 10 in the wake of outfielder Adam Duvall being placed on the injured list with a fractured left wrist. In four games with the Red Sox, the 27-year-old went 2-for-9 (.222) at the plate with one stolen base, two walks, and five strikeouts. He also saw playing time at first base, third base, and shortstop.

Duran, 26, was a logical candidate to get promoted last Wednesday, but the Red Sox elected to go with the right-handed hitting Dalbec since the club was in the midst of facing a plethora of left-handed starters. Now that that portion of the schedule has passed, the left-handed hitting Duran will be batting ninth and starting in center field for Boston on Monday.

In his first 11 games of the season with the WooSox, Duran has batted .195/.353/.439 with two doubles, one triple, two home runs, six RBIs, eight runs scored, two stolen bases, 10 walks, and 11 strikeouts across 51 plate appearances.

(Picture of Brayan Bello: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox claim lefty reliever Brennan Bernardino off waivers from Mariners, transfer Zack Kelly to 60-day injured list

The Red Sox have claimed left-hander Brennan Bernardino off waivers from the Mariners, the club announced earlier Sunday afternoon. In order to make room for Bernardino on the 40-man roster, right-hander Zack Kelly was transferred from the 15-day to the 60-day injured list.

Bernardino, 31, was designated for assignment by Seattle last Wednesday and has since been optioned to Triple-A Worcester. The lefty made his major-league debut for the Mariners last July and made just two appearances for the club, allowing three runs (one earned) on three hits, two walks, and zero strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings of relief.

A native of California, Bernardino was originally selected by the Reds in the 26th round of the 2014 amateur draft out of Cal State Dominguez Hills. After four years in the Reds organization, Bernardino was released by Cincinnati in July 2018. He then latched on with the Guardians the following February, but was cut loose again shortly thereafter so he could pursue an opportunity in the Mexican League.

After spending parts of three seasons in Mexico, Bernardino returned to affiliated ball when his contract was purchased by the Mariners last June. He made 23 relief appearances for Seattle’s Triple-A affiliate in Tacoma last season and posted a 2.20 ERA with 35 strikeouts to 10 walks over 32 2/3 innings of work.

To begin the 2023 campaign, Bernardino surrendered 11 runs (eight earned) on 13 hits, one walk, and 11 strikeout in his first two outings (six innings) for the Rainiers before losing his spot on Seattle’s 40-man roster last week.

Listed at 6-foot-4 and 180 pounds, Bernardino operates with a two-pitch mix that consists of a low-90s sinker and a high-70s curveball. The southpaw should provide the Red Sox with some optionable, left-handed bullpen depth. As things stand now, Richard Bleier is the only lefty reliever on Boston’s big-league roster while Joely Rodriguez (right oblique strain) remains on the injured list.

Kelly, meanwhile, was initially placed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation on April 13. That came one day after the 28-year-old injured his right elbow in the fifth inning of last Wednesday’s loss to the Rays in St. Petersburg.

Though Kelly was visibly upset as he was taken out of the game, an MRI on Friday apparently revealed no structural damage to his right UCL (ulnar collateral ligament). Because Kelly had an internal bracing procedure on his right elbow in May 2020, though, the Red Sox have sent the results of Friday’s MRI to the physician who performed the surgery for a second opinion.

Regardless of the outcome there, Sunday’s decision means Kelly will not be eligible to be activated until mid-June at the earliest. Kelly becomes the latest player to be placed on Boston’s 60-day injured list, joining fellow reliever Wyattt Mills and infielders Adalberto Mondesi and Trevor Story.

(Picture of Brennan Bernardino: Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Red Sox release former top relief prospect Durbin Feltman

The Red Sox have released minor-league reliever Durbin Feltman from their Triple-A roster, the WooSox announced on Tuesday. The Boston Herald’s Mac Cerullo was the first to report the news.

Feltman, who turns 26 next week, was originally selected by the Red Sox in the third round (100th overall pick) of the 2018 amateur draft out of TCU. After dominating in his final season with the Horned Frogs, the right-hander signed with Boston for $559,600 and entered the professional ranks with plenty of hype surrounding him.

At the time Feltman was drafted, the Red Sox were experiencing some issues with their bullpen. As such, some believed that Feltman — then just 21 years old — could rise quickly through the minors and contribute at the big-league level by the end of the 2018 season.

It did not pan out that way for Feltman, though, as the righty struggled to find success on a consistent basis in the minor-leagues and was never able to reach the majors while with the Red Sox.

After being named the organization’s Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Year in 2021, Feltman spent the entirety of the 2022 campaign with the WooSox. There, he posted a 7.63 ERA and 5.97 FIP with 56 strikeouts to 24 walks over 40 outings (48 1/3 innings). He returned to Worcester for the start of the 2023 season and had appeared in two games before being released on Tuesday.

The decision to cut Feltman came at a time when the WooSox were facing a roster crunch. With two players (reliever Taylor Broadway and outfielder Wilyer Abreu) coming off the injured list and starter Kutter Crawford being optioned from Boston, Worcester needed to create an opening and did so by releasing Feltman.

“It’s the crappy part of the business of the game, especially early in the season,” WooSox manager Chad Tracy told MassLive.com’s Katie Morrison-O’Day at Polar Park on Tuesday. “But you come out of spring and the big-league club’s still trying to get healthy and you see on the horizon a lot of guys that are going to get healthy quick.

“I know he went through some tough times last year,” Tracy said of Feltman. “I told him today he kept his head up. He always was here, always working, always trying to get better. We love him, we wish him well and hope he lands on his feet. I think he will.”

Feltman peaked as the No. 9 prospect in Boston’s farm system in April 2019, according to SoxProspects.com’s rankings history. His decline since then can partly be attributed to the velocity of his fastball, which topped out at 99 mph in college but sat between just 90-92 mph last year.

With that, a change of scenery could do Feltman good. The native Texan becomes the latest member of the Red Sox’ 2018 draft class to leave the organization in some capacity. Most notably, fifth-rounder Thaddeus Ward was taken by the Nationals in last December’s Rule 5 Draft. Additionally, fourth-rounder Kole Cottam was granted his release last month so that he could sign with the Frederick Baseball Club of the independent Atlantic League.

(Picture of Durbin Feltman: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox’ Brayan Bello impresses in rehab start with Triple-A Worcester, could be activated from injured list this weekend

Red Sox starter Brayan Bello pitched well in his rehab outing for Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday night.

After tossing five innings in an extended spring training game down in Fort Myers last Wednesday, Bello faced more advanced competition in the Columbus Clippers on a warm evening at Polar Park.

Going six innings this time around, Bello allowed just one earned run on four hits, zero walks, and one hit batsman to go along with four strikeouts. That lone blemish came in the top of the fourth, when the right-hander served up a one-out solo shot to Clippers cleanup hitter Zack Collins.

Bello did not falter after giving up the home run, though. The 23-year-old instead retired seven of the last nine batters he faced and wrapped up his night by getting Collins to ground into an inning-ending, 4-6-3 double play in the sixth.

“I felt good,” Bello told reporters (including MassLive.com’s Katie Morrison-O’Day) through translator Jesus Quinonez of Telemundo. ““I was just trying to throw all the pitches in the strike zone, trying to throw quality pitches and everything went well.”

Finishing with a final pitch count of 81 (50 strikes), Bello induced nine swing-and-misses while mixing in a 94-97 mph sinker, an 86-89 mph changeup, an 82-86 mph slider, and an 81-83 mph curveball, per Baseball Savant. That curveball is a new pitch the righty has recently implemented into his arsenal.

“I felt my velo was good and I was also throwing a pitch that I’ve been practicing in the last couple days, a curve,” said Bello. “I feel good. My body feels good. I’m just trying to do the same work and try to rehabilitate well and try to put in the work so this doesn’t happen again.”

When mentioning “this,” Bello is presumably referring to the right forearm tightness that shut him down during the early stages of spring training and resulted in him starting the season on the 15-day injured list. Now that he is healthy, the Dominican-born hurler appears ready to make his return to the Red Sox’ rotation.

On that front, Bello said that while the decision will ultimately be made by the Sox, he believes he has made his last rehab start. As such, he will likely make his 2023 debut in this weekend’s series against the Angels at Fenway Park. If Boston were to give Bello an additional day of rest, he would be lined up to start opposite Shohei Ohtani for the first time on Marathon Monday.

Bello is not the only injured Red Sox starter who will be rehabbing with the WooSox this week. Left-hander James Paxton, who is working his way back from a right hamstring strain, will get the ball for Worcester on Friday.

(Picture of Brayan Bello: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox option Kutter Crawford to Triple-A Worcester to make room on roster for Garrett Whitlock

The Red Sox optioned right-hander Kutter Crawford to Triple-A Worcester following Monday night’s 1-0 loss to the Rays, according to MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo.

By optioning Crawford, the Red Sox have created an open roster spot for fellow righty Garrett Whitlock, who will come off the injured list and make his season debut against the undefeated Rays at Tropicana Field on Tuesday night.

Whitlock will start opposite All-Star lefty Shane McClanahan in the second game of this four-game series (first pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. ET). The 26-year-old began the season on the injured list after getting a late start in spring training as a result of undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right hip last September.

In two rehab starts with Worcester (on March 31) and Double-A Portland (on April 6), Whitlock allowed two earned runs on seven hits, two walks, and 14 strikeouts over 10 innings of work. He threw 75 pitches (50 strikes) in his first outing and 81 pitches (56 strikes) in his last time out.

Crawford, meanwhile, made Boston’s Opening Day rotation out of spring training to help fill the gaps left behind by Whitlock and Brayan Bello. In two starts already, the 27-year-old has posted an ERA of 8.00 (eight earned runs in nine innings) to go along with 12 strikeouts to just two walks.

Though he got roughed up by the Pirates in his 2023 debut last Monday, Crawford bounced back against the Tigers this past Sunday by scattering five hits and recording six strikeouts across five one-run innings to lead Boston to a 4-1 win over Detroit.

As noted by Cotillo, the Red Sox could have optioned or designated a reliever in order to keep Crawford up with the big-league club by moving him to the bullpen. It instead appears as though Boston would prefer that Crawford continues to work as a starter in Worcester so that he remains stretched out in the event that he is needed at some point down the line.

With Whitlock’s activation, the Red Sox have just two starters remaining on the 15-day injured list in righty Brayan Bello (right elbow inflammation) and lefty James Paxton (right hamstring strain). Bello is slated to begin a rehab assignment and start for the WooSox in their series opener against the Columbus Clippers at Polar Park on Monday night. Paxton, who started for the WooSox in Buffalo over the weekend, is not far behind, either.

(Picture of Kutter Crawford: Paul Rutherford/Getty Images)

Red Sox recall Bobby Dalbec from Triple-A Worcester

The Red Sox have officially recalled infielder Bobby Dalbec from Triple-A Worcester, the club announced prior to Monday’s series opener against the Rays at Tropicana Field.

Dalbec will take the roster spot of outfielder Adam Duvall, who was placed on the 10-day injured list with a distal radius fracture in his left wrist. The 27-year-old flew from Buffalo to St. Petersburg to to join the Red Sox after Duvall suffered the injury in the ninth inning of Sunday’s 4-1 win over the Tigers in Detroit.

Dalbec was optioned to Worcester before the start of the season after failing to make Boston’s Opening Day roster out of spring training. In his first seven games with the WooSox, though, the right-handed hitter went 6-for-23 (.261) with one double, one triple, one home run, five RBIs, six runs scored, four walks, and 10 strikeouts. He put up those numbers while making three starts at first base, one start at third base, and two starts at shortstop.

Because they are slated to face a plethora of left-handed starters in their next two series against the Rays and Angels, the Red Sox elected to call up Dalbec as opposed to the left-handed hitting Jarren Duran even though Duran would have filled a need in the outfield.

“He’s a right-handed hitter and we can use him at first base, at third base,” manager Alex Cora said of Dalbec. “We’re here in Tampa with this turf, you know, so maybe we can give Raffy (Devers) a day (off) at third base and just use (Dalbec) that way.”

Cora added that Dalbec will get some reps at shortstop alongside Christian Arroyo and Yu Chang since Enrique Hernandez will start playing more center field in Duvall’s absence. The 6-foot-4, 227-pounder could also see some time in the outfield, something he has never done before in his professional career.

“I mean, just come here and be ready,” Cora said in regards to the message he sent to Dalbec. “There’s a few things that we’re doing that we want to continue doing. It starts in the clubhouse and preparation in the dugout and all that and be ready. He’s always ready.

“He was swinging the bat well the last few days down there (in Worcester),” added Cora. “Hopefully whenever he gets a chance, he can just keep doing the things he was doing.”

(Picture of Bobby Dalbec: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox’ Garrett Whitlock strikes out 6 in first rehab start for Triple-A Worcester

Red Sox starter Garrett Whitlock began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester on Friday afternoon.

Getting the Opening Day start for the WooSox as they went up against the Syracuse Mets at Polar Park, Whitlock allowed one earned run on six hits and one walk to go along with six strikeouts over four innings of work in an 11-2 win.

Whitlock’s bid for a no-hitter was short-lived, as he gave up a one-out double to Brett Baty in the top of the first inning. The right-hander then stranded Baty at second base by punching out the next two batters he faced in Francisco Alvarez and Mark Vientos.

After retiring the side in order in the second, Whitlock gave up back-to-back singles to Carlos Cortes and Danny Mendick to lead off the third. Cortes advanced to third when Baty grounded into a 4-6-3 double play and scored Syracuse’s first run on an RBI double off the bat of Alvarez.

Whitlock left Alvarez at second by fanning Vientos for a second time. He then worked his way around a one-out Jonathan Arauz single and Khalil Lee walk in the fourth by striking out the last two Mets he faced in Lorenzo Cedrola and Cortes. Worces

Though he was scheduled to pitch into the fifth inning on Friday, Whitlock reached his pitch limit (75) in four, thus ending his outing earlier than anticipated. He threw 50 strikes and induced 12-swings-and-misses while mixing in his sinker, slider, and changeup.

According to The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier, the 26-year-old sat at 94 mph and topped out at 95 mph with his sinker out of the gate but saw his velocity tick down as the game progressed. By the top of the fourth, he was hovering around 91-92 mph, indicating that he is still working on building up stamina.

“It’s still just building the pitches up, continuing to work on everything and continue to sharpen the tools to be ready to go,” Whitlock told reporters (including MassLive.com’s Matt Vautour). “The backdoor slider was working really well. It’s just a matter of trying to get it glove side to righties or if I’m trying to back-foot it.”

Whitlock is building back up after undergoing right hip surgery in September, which resulted in him getting a late start in spring training and starting the season on the 15-day injured list. Because his stint on the injured list was backdated to March 27, the righty is not eligible to be activated until April 11 at the earliest.

As such, Whitlock is expected to make one more minor-league rehab start before re-joining Boston’s starting rotation. He will meet with the Red Sox at Fenway Park on Saturday to determine where he will be pitching next. Worcester will be in Buffalo all of next week while Double-A Portland opens its season at home against Binghamton on Thursday night.

“Only time will tell on that,” Whitlock said of where his next assignment will be. “But stuff felt good today. I’m building volume, trying to sharpen the tools. My spring training just started a little bit later than everyone else’s. Just treating this as another spring training outing and keep going.

“I’ve been rebounding really well,” he added. “It’s just a matter of the medical staff telling me where to go next.”

(Picture of Garrett Whitlock: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Jorge Alfaro on not making Red Sox’ Opening Day roster: ‘I try to control what I can control and whatever happens, happens’

WORCESTER — Earlier this week, Jorge Alfaro took to Twitter to share some Monday morning motivation.

“Giving up is not an option,” Alfaro tweeted at 10:43 a.m. eastern time on Monday.

That tweet came shortly after Red Sox manager Alex Cora announced to reporters (including MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo) in Fort Myers that Alfaro had been reassigned to minor-league camp, meaning he did not beat out Connor Wong for the No. 2 catching spot on Boston’s Opening Day roster behind Reese McGuire.

It also meant that Alfaro was going to remain with the Red Sox and accept his assignment to Triple-A Worcester, which did not seem like a given earlier this spring.

The Red Sox initially signed Alfaro to a minor-league contract in January. The deal came with an “upward mobility” clause that would allow the 29-year-old backstop to pursue a major-league opportunity elsewhere if he was not added to Boston’s 40-man roster by a specific date.

Alfaro exercised that clause this past Saturday, triggering a 48-hour window that — to a certain extent — would determine his immediate future.

“I was pretty much chilling at my house, waiting,” Alfaro told BloggingtheRedSox.com at Polar Park on Wednesday. “I did what I’m supposed to, what I could do. I try to control what I can control and whatever happens, happens. Those things that you don’t have control over, you just have to sit down and see what the future holds for you.”

Alfaro had an impressive spring for Boston at the plate, batting .478/.520/.870 with three doubles, two home runs, six RBIs, and three runs scored in nine Grapefruit League games. Despite those gaudy numbers, though, the right-handed hitter was unable to find a better opportunity, which is why he is still a member of the Red Sox organization.

“I was happy with the job that I did,” said Alfaro. “Whatever happens, right now I’m here [in Worcester]. I can tell everyone — the fans and all my teammates — that I’m going to keep playing the same way, I’m going to bring the same energy every time, and I’m going to give my 100 percent all the time.”

Cora said Monday that it was “important in a selfish way” to keep Alfaro in the organization. As noted by MassLive.com’s Christopher Smith, the Red Sox want Alfaro to continue working on his receiving, which is something that has hindered the 6-foot-3, 230-pounder in the past.

“You want all these guys to be big-leaguers but I think to have him here, he made some strides defensively,” Cora said of Alfaro. “We’re very comfortable with it compared to last year. I think [catching instructor Jason Varitek] feels like there’s a lot of improvement, especially with the one-knee down position. This guy, he communicates well. He has a good feel with the pitching staff. It’s just a numbers game at some point. And where we’re at right now, we feel comfortable with the guys that we have and obviously comfortable with him staying in the organization.”

With the WooSox, not only will Alfaro be looking to build off his solid spring, but he will also be looking to build off a strong offseason in which he played for the Tigres del Licey of the Dominican Winter League and was named the MVP of the league’s championship series.

“When I went down there, I tried to play hard, get back that confidence you have as a player,” Alfaro explained. “I was coming off two years that were not my best years. So going down there, getting the job done, and helping the team, it means a lot. And winning MVP of the finals, I wasn’t expecting that. I was just in that league to help the team, do what I can, and improve on things.

“Just trying not to do too much,” he added. “Just use that opportunity to prove to myself that I can get back to where I was and compete when I step on the field.”

Alfaro, who turns 30 in June, has the ability opt out of his contract with the Red Sox if he is not on the major-league roster by June 1 or July 1 at the latest. For now, though, he is focused on staying present and helping his teammates in any way he can.

“Now that I’m here, my goal is to just help the team with whatever I can,” Alfaro said. “Help my teammates with whatever they need. I know I have a little experience — a couple years — in the big-leagues and I can help a lot of people. … Just go out there and compete and play hard. I think my main goal is just to stay healthy.”

(Picture of Jorge Alfaro: Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox option Jarren Duran to Triple-A Worcester, clearing way for Raimel Tapia to make team

The Red Sox have optioned outfielder Jarren Duran to Triple-A Worcester, the club announced following Tuesday’s Grapefruit League finale against the Braves at JetBlue Park.

By optioning Duran, the Red Sox have effectively cleared the way for non-roster invitee Raimel Tapia to make the team as a fifth outfielder. Tapia, however, is not yet on Boston’s 40-man roster, which is currently at full capacity. And so the club still needs to clear a spot in order to officially add the 29-year-old outfielder to the mix.

Duran and Tapia were essentially competing for a reserve outfield spot behind the likes of Masataka Yoshida, Adam Duvall, Alex Verdugo, and Rob Refsnyder on Boston’s Opening Day roster. Whoever came out on top would be in line to serve as a left-handed hitting complement to the right-handed hitting Refsnyder off the bench.

In just nine games with the Red Sox this spring, Duran went 6-for-18 (.333) at the plate with three doubles, one home run, one RBI, five runs scored, one stolen base, four walks, and three strikeouts. The 26-year-old was away from the team for a little more than two weeks earlier this month to play for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. But he was used sparingly in that time and only accrued five plate appearances.

Tapia, meanwhile, signed a minor-league contract with the Red Sox in January and proved to be one of the club’s top offensive performers this spring. In Grapefruit League games, he batted .326/.383/.605 with six doubles, two homers, five RBIs, seven runs scored, three stolen bases, three walks, and six strikeouts across 47 trips to the plate.

According to MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo, Tapia had the ability to opt out of his deal on Monday, but he elected to remain with the Red Sox through their final game of the spring and went 1-for-2 with a double and run scored in Tuesday’s 7-5 loss to the Braves.

With Duran optioned and Tapia set to make the team, the Red Sox are now tasked with creating an opening for the latter. As noted by The Boston Globe’s Julian McWilliams, it appears as though the club will accomplish this by placing infielder Adalberto Mondesi (ACL rehab) on the 60-day injured list to begin the season.

The Red Sox have just one roster-related decision remaining, and it pertains to the final spot in the bullpen. It will either go to Kaleb Ort, who is already on the 40-man roster but has struggled mightily this spring, Oddanier Mosqueda, Ryan Sherriff or an external option is not yet with the club.

If one of Mosqueda or Sherriff — who were in camp as non-roster invitees — or an outside addition gets the job, another 40-man roster spot would need to be cleared. In that scenario, Ort could very well wind up getting designated for assignment.

All things considered, the Red Sox must finalize their initial 26-man roster to start the season before their Opening Day matchup against the Orioles at Fenway Park on Thursday afternoon.

(Picture of Jarren Duran: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)