Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon

Red Sox announce roster moves

BOSTON, MA -- The Boston Red Sox today announced the following roster moves: 

•   Outfielder Shane Victorino was activated from the 15-day disabled list. To make room for him on the 25-man roster, outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket.

•   Catcher Blake Swihart was placed on the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to July 1) with a sprained left foot. To fill his spot on the 25-man roster, right-handed pitcher Noe (pronounced "no-EH") Ramirez was selected to the active major league roster. To make room for Ramirez on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Zeke Spruill was designated for assignment.  

Victorino and Ramirez (wearing No. 66) will be active for tonight's series opener against the Houston Astros at Fenway Park beginning at 7:10 p.m.

Executive Vice President/General Manager Ben Cherington made the announcement.

Victorino, 34, was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left calf strain on May 24. He had reached base safely in each of his last seven games prior to the injury, batting .563 (9-for-16) with a .632 on-base percentage. The native of Hawaii combined to hit .300 (6-for-20) with two doubles, two runs scored, and one RBI during a rehab assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket (four games) and Double-A Portland (two games). In 20 games for Boston this season, he has hit .255 (14-for-55) with two doubles, one home run, three RBI, and six runs scored. The two-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove Award winner has played in 1,248 career major league games between the San Diego Padres (2003), Philadelphia Phillies (2005-2012), Los Angeles Dodgers (2012), and Red Sox (2013-15), hitting .277 with 229 doubles, 68 triples, 108 home runs, and 485 RBI. Victorino, who also missed time on the disabled list with a right hamstring strain from April 23-May 10, has stolen 227 bases in 273 attempts (83.2 percent) in his career, the eighth-best success rate among active major leaguers (min. 120 attempts).

For Ramirez, 25, this is his first career major league stint. In 16 games for Pawtucket this season, his first Triple-A action, the right-hander is 4-0 with a 2.42 ERA (7 ER/26.0 IP) and 23 strikeouts, allowing just 20 hits and 11 walks. That includes a 1.57 ERA (4 ER/23.0 IP) in 15 appearances out of the bullpen. Signed by the Red Sox as a fourth-round selection in the 2011 June Draft, Ramirez is 11-10 with a 2.91 ERA (82 ER/253.1 IP) and 236 strikeouts in 110 career minor league appearances (17 starts), posting a 2.29 ERA (43 ER/168.2 IP) since the start of 2013. The native of Los Angeles, CA spent all of last season with Double-A Portland, where he had a 2.15 ERA (16 ER/67.0 IP) and was named to the Eastern League's mid-season All-Star team.

Bradley, 25, has appeared in 14 major league games this season, going 4-for-30 (.133) with a homer, two RBI, and four walks over three stints with the Red Sox. He appeared in all eight of Boston's games after being recalled on June 25, and went 4-for-19 (.211) with a homer, two RBI, and two walks in that stretch. The left-handed batter has played all three outfield positions for Boston this season, making eight starts in right field and one start in center field. Bradley has hit .322 (66-for-205) with 26 runs, 18 doubles, four home runs, and 16 RBI for Pawtucket, with five outfield assists in 51 games between center field (49 starts) and right field (two starts). In 178 career major league games, he has hit .193 (98-for-509) with 65 runs scored, 24 doubles, two triples, five home runs, 42 RBI, and 10 stolen bases.

Swihart, 23, was in his first career major league stint after being recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket on May 2. In 40 games (37 starts) with Boston, the switch-hitter has a .241 average (32-for-133) with eight doubles, one home run, 16 runs scored, and 11 RBI. He has thrown out nine of 32 attempted base stealers, including three of his last seven and each of his last two. Swihart entered the year as the No. 1 catching prospect in all of baseball, according to Baseball America. He was named the publication's Minor League Catcher of the Year honors in 2014 after batting .293 with 26 doubles, four triples, 13 homers, and 64 RBI between Double-A Portland, where he earned team MVP honors, and Pawtucket, which he helped to the Governors' Cup championship. Signed as a first-round selection (26th overall) in the 2011 June Draft, Swihart has hit .287 (347-for-1,210) with 75 doubles, 15 triples, 22 home runs, and 170 RBI in 325 career minor league games, throwing out 75 of 175 (43%) attempted base stealers since 2013.

Spruill, 25, is 4-4 with two saves and a 5.40 ERA (32 ER/53.1 IP) over a team-leading 24 appearances (four starts) with the PawSox this year, his first season in the Red Sox organization after being acquired in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks in December. For his major league career, the right-hander has posted a 1-3 record and 4.24 ERA (16 ER/34.0 IP) with 23 strikeouts in 12 outings (three starts), all with the Diamondbacks (2013-14). Originally selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 2008 June Draft, the Virginia native is also 51-54 with four saves and a 3.94 ERA (369 ER/842.0 IP) in 180 career minor league appearances (133 starts).

Read More: Boston Red Sox