MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — The Red Sox optioned Bobby Dalbec to Triple-A Worcester on Friday after he batted just .132 with a .207 on-base percentage, .170 slugging percentage, .377 OPS, two doubles, four RBIs, four walks and 28 strikeouts in 22 games (59 plate appearances).
Manager Alex Cora wants Dalbec to go down there and relax.
“He felt it. You could tell that every out was wearing on him,” said Cora when asked his message to Dalbec. “Now unplug him, go down there and breathe a little bit and play. One thing Bres (chief baseball officer Craig Breslow) told him, he played great at first base. We won a few games because of the way he played defense there. He played great at third base.”
Dalbec had three defensive runs saved in 76 ⅓ innings at first base.
“The most comfortable I’ve seen him at first,” Cora said. “Going to his right, he made some great plays.”
Cora said he’s not sure if Dalbec was putting too much pressure on himself but it looked like it.
“I told him, I said, ‘Bro, just play. Just play.’ But it felt like with every at-bat sometimes. But he did some good things, too,” Cora said. “We can talk about Bobby and hitting homers. That bunt, he helped us with a game. He never pouted. He just kept going.”
