Red Sox activate third baseman Will Middlebrooks from disabled list

BOSTON, MA - The Boston Red Sox today activated third baseman Will Middlebrooks from the 15-day disabled list. To make room for him on the 25-man roster, infielder Brock Holt was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket following last night's game. Middlebrooks is starting at third base in tonight's game against the Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre in Toronto at 7:07 p.m.

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

Middlebrooks, 25, was placed on the disabled list on April 6 (retroactive to April 5) with a right calf strain. Yesterday, he completed a three-game rehabilitation assignment with Pawtucket where he was 0-for-10 at the plate, and played 21.0 defensive innings at third base. With Boston this season, the club's fifth-round selection in the 2007 June Draft has hit .231 (3-for-13) with one double, one home run, and one RBI in four games. Defensively, he started each of the club's first four games at third base with no errors in 12 total chances.

The 25-year-old Holt has now had two stints in the majors with the Red Sox this season, and has hit .348 (10-for-23) with one triple and four RBI in seven games. He will rejoin Pawtucket where he has batted .380 (19-for-50) with six doubles, one triple, one home run, and three RBI in 12 games. A ninth-round selection of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2009 June Draft, Holt was acquired by Boston in a six-player trade with the Pirates on December 26, 2012.