Red Sox activate outfielder Shane Victorino from disabled list

BOSTON, MA - The Boston Red Sox today activated outfielder Shane Victorino from the 15-day disabled list. To make room for him on the 25-man roster, infielder/outfielder Mookie Betts was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket. Victorino is scheduled to start in right field in tonight's 7:10 p.m. game at Fenway Park against the Kansas City Royals.

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

Victorino, 33, was placed on the disabled list on May 24 with a right hamstring strain. He played 10 games on rehab between stops at Short-A Lowell (4 games) and Triple-A Pawtucket (6 games). In five games after restarting the rehab assignment on July 10, he went 3-for-14 (.214) with a double, two walks, and three runs scored. This was Victorino's second stint on the disabled list this season after beginning the year with a right hamstring injury. He has appeared in 21 games with Boston this season, hitting .242 (22-for-91) with five doubles, one triple, one home run, 10 RBI, and two stolen bases. The 11-year major league veteran and two-time All-Star hit a career-best .294 (140-for-477) last season, his first year with the Red Sox.

Betts, 21, hit .235 (8-for-34) with two doubles, one home run, two RBI, and five runs scored over 10 games with the Red Sox in his first career major league stint after being recalled on June 28. The right-handed batter returns to Pawtucket, where he hit .322 (29-for-90) and reached base safely in all 23 games this season following a June 3 promotion from Double-A Portland. He has reached base safely in 71 of 77 minor league games this year between the two stops, combining for a .345 average (105-for-304), 21 doubles, four triples, eight home runs, 48 RBI, 70 runs scored, 29 stolen bases, a .437 on-base percentage, and a .520 slugging percentage en route to a spot on the 2014 XM Sirius All-Star Futures Team. Betts was signed by the Red Sox as a fifth-round selection in the 2011 June Draft.