Red Sox promote popular WooSox utilityman, optioning Jamie Westbrook to Triple-A
WooSox infielder Nick Sogard is now a big leaguer.
The Red Sox selected Sogard for the team’s active Major League roster while optioning infielder Jamie Westbrook to Worcester.
The 26-year-old was enjoying a strong season batting .279 with an .832 OPS, 62 runs scored, 16 doubles, one triple, 12 home runs, and 10 stolen bases in 89 games.
The switch-hitting utilityman has played all over the diamond, making starts at shortstop (47 games), third base (19 games), right field (7 games), left field (6 games), second base (5 games), first base (2 games), and designated hitter (1 game).
Earlier this month, Red Sox skipper Alex Cora gave a strong endorsement for Sogard and the possibility of potentially getting a shot at the big league club.
“(Nick Sogard), he’s playing great; he’s doing an outstanding job,” Cora said. “Playing good defense, putting good at bats from the left side and right side, just got to make sure people know it, right? That’s what I’m doing right now, and that’s a player. When people are talking about you and you’re in Triple-A, you know you’re on the radar. It’s just a matter of time.”
Sogard has been putting together quality at-bats all season, while also adding power to his game.
“His at-bats continue to be plus-plus quality,” WooSox manager Chad Tracy said to reporters at the beginning of June. “He worked really hard in the offseason to gain strength and stuff like that; he’s working on his bat speed, and there’s more balls going over the fence, too. Just a pro hitter, just a really good hitter.”
The California native was originally a 12th round pick of the Rays back in 2019. He comes from an accomplished baseball family; his cousin is former big leaguer Eric Sogard, and his uncles are Steve and Dave Sax.
With the Red Sox middle infield situation, Sogard will become the latest player to attempt to give the club stability at second base.
Sogard will wear number 75 while with the Red Sox, and he will join the club for their series finale against the Mariners at Fenway Park.
