Red Sox recall third baseman Garin Cecchini from Triple-A Pawtucket

BOSTON, MA - The Boston Red Sox today recalled third baseman Garin Cecchini from Triple-A Pawtucket. To make room for him on the 25-man roster, right-handed pitcher Alex Wilson was optioned to Pawtucket following last night's game. Cecchini will wear No. 70 and will be active for today's game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park, which begins at 1:35 p.m.

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

For Cecchini, 23, this marks his first career major league stint. This season, his first at the Triple-A level, he leads the PawSox with 49 hits and is batting .278 (176 AB) with a .354 on-base percentage, seven doubles, one home run, 21 RBI, 20 walks, 20 runs scored, and six stolen bases, reaching base in 46 of his 50 games played. He posted the league's longest on-base streak of the seasons at 29 games from April 18-May 22. The right-handed hitter, who has been named an All-Star in each of his first three minor league seasons, owns a .408 on-base percentage over his career, including a minor league-leading .443 mark last season over 129 games between High-A Salem and Double-A Portland. Signed by the Red Sox as a fourth-round selection in the 2010 June Draft, Cecchini has hit .307 (368-for-1,199) with 90 doubles, 12 triples, 15 homers, 167 RBI, and 192 walks in 329 minor league games over four seasons in the Red Sox system.

Wilson, 27, pitched the final 2.0 innings of last night's 7-1 win over the Rays, allowing one run. It was his second outing for Boston in three major league stints this season, over which he has no record, a 3.00 ERA (1 ER/3.0 IP), and two strikeouts. With Pawtucket this year, he is 1-0 with five saves, and a 1.42 ERA (3 ER/19.0 IP) in 18 appearances, all in relief. He has held opponents to a .182 (12-for-66) batting average and is averaging 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings (21 SO/19.0 IP) with the PawSox. Last year, Wilson made his major league debut with 26 games over three stints with the Red Sox, going 1-1 with a 4.88 ERA and 22 strikeouts compared to 14 walks.