Downs, a top prospect acquired for Betts, DFA’d by Sox
BOSTON — Jeter Downs was rated the No. 1 Red Sox prospect per MLB Pipeline shortly after coming over in the 2020 commerce that despatched perennial All-Star Mookie Betts to the Dodgers.
The Red Sox actually purchased into Downs’ lofty standing, which is why they finalized the controversial commerce as soon as the shortstop was included within the bundle by Los Angeles. However, Downs didn’t come near dwelling as much as his promise throughout three years in Boston’s farm system.
“This was a tough one,” stated Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom. “The undeniable fact that he was able the place we thought of him and selected him to be designated I feel simply speaks to among the struggles we’ve had getting him on monitor.
“I still think there’s a lot of physical ability there, but we haven’t been able to unlock it consistently. Certainly, he’s still young and there’s no reason to write him off, but he’s obviously had some struggles.”
What Downs has struggled essentially the most with is hitting. He hit .190 at Triple-A Worcester in 2021, and his common ticked as much as simply .197 on the identical affiliate this previous season.
The 24-year-old made his MLB debut in 2022, when the Red Sox have been decimated by accidents, and he had the memorable second of manufacturing his first profession hit — a game-tying, RBI single — within the backside of the ninth in opposition to the Yankees. A couple of minutes later, he scored the walk-off run.
In 14 video games, Downs, a center infielder, hit simply .154 for Boston with a homer and 4 RBIs.
“I’m glad he was able to get to the big leagues with us, glad he was able to have a moment with us here at Fenway, help us win a big game,” stated Bloom. “That was a lot of fun for a lot of people, but obviously, we haven’t been able to get him to that success as consistently as anybody would like with Jeter.”
Bloom was requested if the DFA was more durable to swallow provided that he was one of many three items that came to visit for Betts, becoming a member of Alex Verdugo and Connor Wong, who’re nonetheless with the membership.
“I don’t think it changes what the decision is, because ultimately we have a responsibility to every player in this organization to just make the right decision by all of them when we’re making decisions for the organization,” stated Bloom. “No doubt he was a big part of a really significant trade, and that we haven’t gotten him to the level we expected hurts, but at the end of the day, we want to do right by all of our players and the organization.”
