Jarrod

Saltalamacchia

Saltalamacchia, 33, never reached the high expectations set for him when he was a top prospect over a decade ago, but he wound up having a lengthy major league career. “Salty” batted .232/.306/.408 over parts of 12 big league seasons for the Braves, Rangers, Red Sox, Marlins, Diamondbacks, Tigers and Blue Jays.

It’s been a very rough year for Saltalamacchia, who is batting just .197/.297/.311 in 239 at-bats for Mississippi. No word yet on how much time he’ll miss.

Salty was just 1-for-13 this spring coming into the day. Both hits came off Pirates right-hander Kevin Correia.

Saltalamacchia finished the game 2-for-4 with three RBI. He connected on a solo shot off of Phil Humber in the third inning, then added a two-run bomb off of Humber in the fifth. He’s off to a very strong start to the season now, with four homers and nine RBI in just 46 at bats.

Salty plated three total runs with first and sixth inning singles before tagging Dan Wheeler for a two-run bomb in the seventh. The home run was his first in 12 games, while the five RBI increase his season total by 50 percent (10 to 15). Although he’s hitting just .250/.281/.512, Salty remains an acceptable option in two-catcher mixed leagues.

His two runs scored and two RBI doubled his season totals in each category. He now has six hits in his last eight at-bats, lifting his batting average from .100 to .237. Equally impressively, he has fanned only once in his last 21 at-bats.

“It seems to me he’s a player who’s trying to step right into his own. He feels like this is his time,’’ Valentine said. “He’s trying to take a leadership role with the pitchers. We’ve had a lot of communications sessions and when I’ve gotten to those sessions, he’s applying himself.’’

Not surprising with the day game after the night game and left-hander Ricky Romero on the bump for the Blue Jays. Kelly Shoppach will make the start behind the plate and bat ninth.

Somebody get Jason Varitek on the phone. Salty has followed a pretty bad spring (.222 BA with 12 K’s in 36 at-bats) with a very bad start to the season (.077 BA with six K’s in 13 at-bats). Last season’s career-high 16 homers in part-time work were tantalizing entering 2012. But don’t forget that for his career, he has fanned once per 3.14 at-bats.

Not a surprise against the southpaw Derek Holland. Kelly Shoppach will make the start behind the plate and bat seventh.