BOSTON — When the Red Sox traded for Jeter Downs two years ago, the irony that the team had acquired a shortstop with that particular name was lost on no one.
Now, more than two years after Downs arrived as part of the Mookie Betts trade with the Dodgers, the infielder with the famously eyebrow-raising name is scheduled to make his big-league debut Wednesday at shortstop, with Xander Bogaerts banged up and getting a day off.
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If he can hit, no one will care who he’s named after.
Starting at short wasn’t the original plan, though. Before batting practice Tuesday, Downs took grounders at third base. Downs had never played third in his minor-league career, yet manager Alex Cora initially planned for the 23-year-old to start at the corner spot Wednesday, with Rafael Devers getting a scheduled day off.
With the Red Sox winning the series against Detroit after a 5-4 victory Tuesday, Cora is opting to rest Bogaerts and Devers. Bobby Dalbec is scheduled to start at third base.
Locked in the series dub!
FINAL: #DirtyWater pic.twitter.com/8OUctiKVD8
— Red Sox (@RedSox) June 22, 2022
The Red Sox are undoubtedly short on infield depth with Christian Arroyo still on a rehab assignment after a COVID-19-related IL stint. That the club trusted Downs to start at third base in his major-league debut, however, was notable.
“First and foremost, Jeter the last two years has done a good job of working on his defense and being consistent on his pre-pitch and base, and things are moving in the right direction for him,” third-base coach and infield instructor Carlos Febles said.
“Things we’ve talked about,” Febles added, “now he’s getting it done, and he has put himself in the position where we can trust him to go out there and play in the infield for us, even if he has to play third for the first time.”
Defensive versatility is something the Red Sox have incorporated throughout the organization, but for Downs, who has played only shortstop and second base in his professional career, additional versatility could allow him to help the big-league club at a time when the farm system is suddenly getting more crowded with middle-infield talent.
When the Red Sox acquired Downs in the 2020 trade with the Dodgers for Betts, the franchise was rebuilding its minor-league depth. In the years since, the Red Sox have strengthened their middle-infield depth considerably. They drafted middle infielders in the first rounds of the 2020 and 2021 MLB Drafts, adding second baseman Nick Yorke and shortstop Marcelo Mayer. They traded for second basemen Christian Koss and David Hamilton. They’ve watched shortstop Matthew Lugo, infielder Brainer Bonaci and utilityman Ryan Fitzgerald take big steps forward in their development.
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Downs hasn’t seen as much success as his peers over that same time, hitting .187 with a .637 OPS at Triple A since the start of 2021. Expanding his defensive skill set is only going to help, and he said his defense has been his biggest area of improvement since joining the organization.
“I’m trying to keep it simple,” Downs said. “All three positions (second, short and third), you have to catch the ball and throw it over to first base, so that’s all I’m trying to think about. I’m not trying to think about too many mechanics or things. Just trying to go out, be free and be athletic and play the game.”
Febles credited the organization’s player development staff with Downs’ improved footwork and range in the field.
“When we traded for him, we knew exactly where he was, how talented he was, and we understood he needed a lot of work. And he put in the work,” Febles said.
Arroyo served as the designated hitter for Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday and is scheduled to play shortstop Wednesday in Worcester. If all goes well, he’ll likely return to the Red Sox for the trip beginning in Cleveland on Friday. That means Downs’ time will be limited, but he’s getting a chance now and hoping to do what he can with it.
“If you watch the game of baseball nowadays, it’s about versatility,” Febles said. “LA, Tampa, the Yankees — the good teams have versatility, and you want to have guys that can pitch in, in any position, and so we can count on them. It’s huge. Chaim (Bloom) and the scouting department have done a good job on finding guys capable of playing different positions, so this is the direction baseball is moving.”
Perhaps Downs will see more time at third in Worcester when he returns, or at least more early work at the spot. But it seems fitting, at least for his big-league debut, that he’ll be starting at shortstop.
(Photo: Brian Fluharty / USA Today)