Today’s game
Opponent: Tri-City Dust Devils
When: 7:05 p.m.
Where: Everett Memorial Stadium
Radio: KRKO (1380 AM)
Probable starters: Everett right-hander Aaron Brown (0-3, 5.45 earned run average) vs. right-hander Parker Frazier (3-3, 3.93)
Thin in the OF
The Everett AquaSox have carried five outfielders most of the season. However, the Sox suddenly find themselves down to the bare minimum of three thanks to a combination of promotion and injury.
“Right now we’re a little short in the outfield,” Everett manager Jose Moreno lamented.
Unfortunately for the Sox, the two lost outfielders are the promoted Kevin Reynolds and the injured Dennis Raben. They had been Everett’s most effective offensive outfielders, and their loss leaves just Welington Dotel, Tyson Gillies and Ryan Royster to patrol the green expanses.
Reynolds, 26, was promoted to High Desert of the Class A California League a week ago. Being older than the typical Northwest League player, he was just filling a slot in Everett, but at the time of his promotion he was leading the team in batting with a .342 average.
Meanwhile, Raben is again feeling the effects from the finger injury that plagued him both during his college season at the University of Miami, and also sidelined him for a short period earlier in Everett’s season. Leading the Sox in both slugging percentage (.595) and on-base percentage (.440), Raben is expected to miss another week or two as he rests the injury.
“If he keeps playing it’s going to get worse,” Moreno said about Raben. “We want him to be healthy and we don’t want to rush. There’s no reason to play two or three games and then get hurt and be out for the rest of the season. We’re going to give him some time to see if he can come back and if not, he’s going to be ready for the (fall) instructional league.”
There was no immediate plan for outfield relief in the form of new players. Tuesday’s temporary relief saw first baseman Brandon Fromm line up in left.
Reinforcements: It may not have addressed Everett’s shortage in the outfield, but the Sox did receive a potential jump start to their offense in the form of third baseman Jharmidy De Jesus, who was added to the roster Tuesday.
An 18-year-old from the Dominican Republic, the right-swinging De Jesus was in the starting lineup Tuesday, batting sixth. Though a third baseman by trade, Moreno said De Jesus would see time at third, first and designated hitter. He’s expected to be an everyday player for the remainder of the season.
De Jesus, who was scorching the ball for Peoria of the rookie Arizona League prior to his promotion, could provide much-needed pop to Everett’s lineup, particularly from the right side. In 34 games with Peoria he batted .339 with six home runs and 18 RBI, though Moreno was quick to temper expectations.
“He’s 18 years old and it’s his first year in the states,” Moreno said. “He was doing a real good job in Arizona, so that’s why he got the call to come to Everett. Hopefully he will help the team win some ballgames. We’ll give him the opportunity to play every day to see what he can show.”
Nick Patterson, Herald writer
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