Red Sox option Bobby Dalbec to Triple-A Worcester, recall red hot slugger from WooSox
The Red Sox optioned Bobby Dalbec to Triple-A Worcester, the team announced on Monday afternoon.
After making the 26-man roster out of spring training, Dalbec struggled in six games for Boston, going 0-for-9 with six strikeouts. Dalbec has struck out 34 times in his last 58 big league plate appearances.
During his recent cup of coffee with the big league club, Dalbec was penciled into the starting lineup three times, once at first base, another last third base, and once as the designated hitter.
Boston will swap Dalbec with infielder Romy Gonzalez, who has been red hot at the plate for the WooSox, a source tells Beyond the Monster.
The 27-year-old has gone 9-for-28 (.321 batting average) with three homers, one double, two triples, one stolen base, and a 1.196 OPS.
Gonzalez has ranked among the top players in the International League. He’s fifth in RBIs (10), third in homers (3), sixth in slugging percentage (.821%), 10th in OPS (1.196), tied for first with triples (2), and sixth in total bases (23).
“He’s been impressive the whole year, so far," Tracy said to reporters during the first home stand of the season. “The versatility—he’s at shortstop, he’s at first base, he can play the outfield, he can play second base—what he’s doing versatility-wise, and also the power and the ability to drive the ball to the opposite field—he’s been awesome for us.
“He’s a good-looking baseball player,” added Tracy.
Boston claimed Gonzalez off waivers from the White Sox at the end of January. He’s played in 86 major league games for Chicago from 2021-2023. Gonzalez offers positional versatility for Alex Cora, he’s made 46 starts at second base, seven starts in right field, four starts at shortstop, three starts at third base, and three starts in left field.
With the WooSox, he’s played first base, second base, and shortstop. He’s seen more time at shortstop after David Hamilton was called up following Trevor Story’s shoulder injury in Anaheim last weekend.
While the Red Sox were in Seattle, Cora spoke about Gonzalez.
“Besides versatility and being athletic, I think the offensive approach got better (during spring training),” Cora said to reporters, including MassLive. “We set some goals when he got there, and he attacked it the right way. He was hitting off the Trajekt (machine) the whole spring training. Swing decisions was very important. I do believe halfway through camp he started using the big part of the field. He did yesterday. He hit two homers: one opposite field and one to center field. He hit the one (against) Minnesota (in spring training) to straight center.
“He’s a good athlete,” Cora added. “He’s a big kid that can play good defense wherever we put him. He’s going to play first base a little bit down there, too. Because that’s something we’re asking our guys. Bobby can do it. Pablo (Reyes) can do it. So it’s a good start for him.”
