Jeter Downs claimed off waivers by the Washington Nationals
The Red Sox have lost minor-leaguer Jeter Downs who was claimed off waivers by the Washington Nationals. Downs was designated for assignment by Boston last week.
The Nationals will add Downs to their 40-man roster. He is the second Red Sox minor-leaguer to join the Nationals this month. Washington also added Thad Ward who was drafted first overall during the Rule 5 draft.
Downs was one of the three players acquired in the Mookie Betts trade with the Dodgers back in 2020. The Columbia born infielder was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for outfielder Masataka Yoshida.
The 24-year-old will now head to his fourth pro organization; he was drafted by the Reds before being traded to the Dodgers, and then the Red Sox.
Red Sox fans have been critical of the Downs DFA move since it was announced last week. The former top-100 prospect has struggled during his time in the Red Sox organization.
“This was a tough one,” Bloom said last week. “The fact that he was in a position where we considered him and chose him to be designated, I think just speaks to some of the struggles we’ve had getting him on track. I still think there’s a lot of physical ability there but we haven’t been able to unlock it consistently. Certainly know he’s still young and there’s no reason to write him off but he has obviously had some struggles.”
Downs hit .191 with 14 homers and a .606 OPS in 99 games at Triple-A in 2021. He followed up that with season with a subpar .197 average and .728 OPS in 81 games for the WooSox in 2022.
The new Nationals infielder made his Major League debut last season for Boston. In 14 games at the big league level this summer, Downs was 6-for-39 (.154) with one homer. He struck out at an ghastly 51.2% rate, going down on strikes in 21 of 41 plate appearances.
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