Jamie Westbrook debuted with the Boston Pink Sox final season and the 29-year-old discovered his subsequent alternative inside the American League East.
Westbrook signed a minor league cope with the Tampa Bay Rays, based on MLB.com’s participant transactions, and is ready to affix the membership for large league camp. The first second baseman with outfield expertise will compete for a spot with the membership, in hopes Westbrook can showcase his utility defensive expertise able to carving out a depth position.
It took 11 seasons within the minor leagues for Westbrook to obtain the long-awaited call-up to the most important leagues. The Pink Sox promoted Westbrook to fill their second base void, initially in July, and performed him for 21 video games earlier than designating him for task in August. Westbrook elected free of charge company in November searching for what’s now develop into the 2013 fifth-round draft choice’s sixth group within the final seven seasons.
“You spend that lengthy within the minor leagues, you begin to imagine that it’s not going to occur,” Westbrook stated Monday, per MLB.com’s Adam Berry. “(It) simply type of validates what I’ve all the time considered myself. I really feel like I can are available and simply, like, be me. I do know my good is nice sufficient now, so simply do this. And I positively have a brand new perspective on taking part in ball. I’m not essentially attempting to get to the large leagues so exhausting. I’ve type of loosened the grip, and I can simply benefit from the sport now.”
Westbrook, a Massachusetts native, recorded his first MLB hit, residence run, and RBI throughout his temporary stint with the Pink Sox. He hit .150/.234/.350 throughout the large league run, albeit on a restricted 48-plate-appearance pattern dimension. Westbrook spent most of 2024 with Triple-A Worcester and batted .277 with 12 residence runs, 24 doubles and 71 RBIs, logging appearances at first base, second base, third base and proper discipline throughout 102 video games.
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The Pink Sox upgraded their infield this offseason, most notably by signing Alex Bregman to a three-year, $120 million deal in free company. Plus the crew has rising prospect infielders Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer desirous to sink their tooth into the large leagues, so with the surplus quantity of infield choices working to Boston’s benefit, there wasn’t any room for Westbrook to return for a second season with the group.
