Red Sox Designate Abraham Toro for Assignment, Recall David Hamilton from Triple-A

[Jordan Leandre]

The Boston Red Sox designated infielder Abraham Toro for assignment Thursday, per Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic.

Across 77 games and 284 plate appearances, the switch-hitter slashed .239/.289/.371 with seven home runs and 27 runs batted in. His fWAR came in at -0.7.

It wasn't all bad for Toro, who entered play on June 13 hitting .330 with a 151 wRC+ and five home runs. However, he hit the wall hard, particularly from a power standpoint, slugging just .255 with two home runs in his final 185 plate appearances. He struggled particularly since the trade deadline passed, where the Red Sox didn't acquire a first baseman, hitting just .131 with a -1 wRC+ in 53 plate appearances.

His fWAR during that span was -0.7, tied with Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Nick Castellanos for last among 188 qualified hitters.

The corresponding move returns middle infielder David Hamilton to Boston ahead of their four-game weekend series with the New York Yankees.

Hamilton has struggled between inconsistent playing time and results, posting a .174/.227/.265 slash line with a 32 wRC+ in 69 games in MLB this season. However, his defense at second base remains great, where he's tied for fifth with seven defensive runs saved despite being 37th in innings. 

His speed and baserunning is also super valuable, as he's top-60 in Base Runs (BsR) and in the 93rd percentile for sprint speed.

In nine games with Triple-A Worcester, Hamilton hit .282 with two home runs and six stolen bases. Perhaps with uncertainty surrounding the availability of outfielder Wilyer Abreu, the Red Sox are preparing for more Ceddanne Rafaela in center field, thus opening an opportunity up for Hamilton to play second base, despite his skillset overlapping a lot with fellow speedster Nate Eaton.

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[Bellhorn04]

So one whipping boy out, and one back in. 

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, Bellhorn04 said:

So one whipping boy out, and one back in. 

I'd rather have Hamilton down the stretch coming off the bench than Toro now that Lowe is the primary 1b. Hamilton can at least play a decent 2b and run very fast. Toro was below average across the board. 

[moonslav59]

DHam has value as a PR'er and late inning 2B defense (Rafaela to CF adds there, too.)

Toro had no value since the Devers trade.

Addition by subtraction, as these guys should/could never see another game for the Sox in 2025:

.354 Sabol

.580 Casas

.612 Eaton

.662 Sogard

.664 Campbell

.672 Toro (sub .600 since Devers)

.674 Mayer

The only bad batters who may get significant ABs are Wong (.441) & DHam (.492.)

Pitchers:

18.00 Toro

10.13 Fulmer & Stick

8.04 Houck

6.59 Hendriks

maybe no more...

7.07 Hicks & I Campbell

6.75 Moran

5.56 Kelly

5.43 Buehler (no playoff starts)

 

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[illinoisredsox]

Sox have made a couple roster shifts the past couple days.

I. Campbell was sent down yesterday; I haven’t seen anyone announced as coming up yet.

Slaten started a rehab assignment so hopefully whoever is called up will not be here very long.

[illinoisredsox]

One would think Eaton and Hamilton are somewhat interchangeable but it appears they will carry both for now.  I’m assume Eaton is staying up because he can play 3rd as well as the OF (which might required if Abreu is still hobbled).  Hamilton is strictly a middle infield type.

[vegasbob]

In the real world as well as the fantasy of professional sports, the basic rule is the same: perform or go home.

[moonslav59]

I've been rough on Toro for several weeks. He helped us for a couple-three weeks, when we needed him, but that slump was just too steep and long to continue.

[mvp 78]

1 hour ago, illinoisredsox said:

Sox have made a couple roster shifts the past couple days.

I. Campbell was sent down yesterday; I haven’t seen anyone announced as coming up yet.

Slaten started a rehab assignment so hopefully whoever is called up will not be here very long.

Dick Fitts

[moonslav59]

Jh Garcia called up!!!

Abreu to IL.