Lovullo: Hanley is Red Sox's left fielder

BOSTON -- The Red Sox have no plans to move Hanley Ramirez out of left field, interim manager Torey Lovullo said before Tuesday's game against the Indians.

Lovullo was asked specifically if the Red Sox have been working Ramirez out at all at first base in pregame drills.

"We're not hiding anything. We want to be as transparent as possible. No, he's not getting any type of work at first base at this point," Lovullo said. "Hanley Ramirez is our left fielder. I think we are gonna stay with that."

Rather than having Ramirez learn a new position twice in a year, the Red Sox would rather see if he can continue to take steps in left field, where he has struggled, particularly at home.

"We're going to try to get him the necessary work and the necessary reps and the necessary innings out there to get him to the point where he feels comfortable and we become a championship defense in the outfield," Lovullo said. "It takes time. He's a converted infielder, and it's a tough process. He's further from the ball, but the ball is moving and traveling at different angles, and I feel comfortable in saying that Hanley is doing the right thing, is working as hard as he can to make it happen as fast as he can."

Given that the Red Sox have three highly athletic outfielders in Rusney Castillo, Mookie Betts and Jackie Bradley Jr., there have been a lot of external suggestions that the club should move Ramirez to first.

But as of yet, that idea hasn't gained any momentum from within the organization.

"He has some infield instincts in the outfield still. I know he wants to come in on balls," said Lovullo. "I think he's becoming a little more familiar with the spacing around the wall. I just think there's a general feel that he needs to develop here in Fenway Park. I think on the road, he does OK defensively. I think in Fenway Park, it's a very confined area, and he's still adjusting to that. It's just going to take a little bit of time."