Even with Alex Bregman on board, it’s still anyone’s guess who will ultimately emerge as the Red Sox’s starting second baseman.
Over the coming weeks several young infielders will have a chance to prove it should be them.
That competition heated up on Tuesday as all three incumbent contenders took the field during Boston’s 6-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves. Vaughn Grissom got the start at second base, David Hamilton started at shortstop and Kristian Campbell came in for Grissom in the sixth inning.
Of the three, Hamilton had the best day.
The second-year speedster went 2 for 2 with a double to lead what was otherwise a tough day offensively for the Red Sox. Hamilton also had a stolen base in the third, though he was subsequently caught trying to swipe third base as well.
Grissom went 0 for 2 with a strikeout in his two plate appearances and Campbell went 0 for 2, including a strikeout to end the game.
Roman Anthony drove in Boston’s lone run, coming through with an RBI single in the top of the ninth.
Duran debuts
Jarren Duran made his spring training debut, taking the field two days after he was scratched with a sore calf. Duran went 1 for 3 out of the leadoff spot, knocking a single in the bottom of the second.
Trevor Story started at designated hitter and went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts, Triston Casas played first base and went 0 for 2 with a walk, and Ceddanne Rafaela started in center field and went 0 for 2.
Newcomb, Guerrero impress
Brockton native Sean Newcomb made his first appearance in a Red Sox uniform on Tuesday, getting the start and throwing two scoreless innings in his debut. Newcomb allowed one hit with no walks and struck out three, including Braves stars Matt Olson, Marcell Ozuna and Sean Murphy.
Luis Guerrero also continued making a strong early impression, striking out two in his scoreless inning of action. Guerrero is among the contenders for a spot in the Red Sox bullpen and last season posted nine consecutive outings without an earned run following his late-season promotion.
So far this spring he’s posted two scoreless appearances with five strikeouts and one walk.
Noah Davis allowed two runs over two innings, Robert Stock gave up three runs on three hits and two walks in one inning, and Wyatt Mills allowed a solo home run to former Red Sox catcher Sandy Leon during his 1.2 innings of work.
Prospect watch
In addition to his RBI single in the top of the ninth, Anthony also had a diving catch in left field in the bottom of the eighth. Overall he went 1 for 2 after entering the game in the bottom of the sixth.
Marcelo Mayer went 0 for 1 as a sixth-inning substitution at third base, Campbell went 0 for 2, Jhostynxon Garcia went 0 for 1 after subbing in right field, and Carlos Narvaez started at catcher and went 0 for 2.
Coming up next
The Red Sox host the Tampa Bay Rays at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers on Wednesday at 1:05 p.m. Closer candidates Aroldis Chapman and Liam Hendriks are expected to make their first appearances of the spring, and Brennan Bernardino, Zack Kelly, Greg Weissert, Justin Wilson and Austin Adams are expected to come out of the bullpen as well.
Hunter Dobbins is expected to get the start for Boston, and former St. John’s of Shrewsbury great Ian Seymour is scheduled to start for the Rays.
