Nate

Eaton

The Red Sox demoted reliever Ja La Sorsa in a corresponding move, so there is no clear path for Eaton to play. Unless Boston clears up its catcher logjam, then Eaton may head back down to the minors once Jake Bennett, most likely, is called up to start on Wednesday against the Rays.

A memorable one-day stint on the roster. Eaton did not get into yesterday’s game against the Blue Jays and will head back to Worcester while the Red Sox try to figure out their rotation plans over the weekend. Chris Cotillo says Jake Bennett will likely grab the ball on Friday.

Eaton is taking the place of Garrett Crochet, who was placed on the IL with shoulder inflammation. The Red Sox will need another starting pitcher this weekend, so this could be a short stay for Eaton, but he is off to a strong start this season, slashing .292/.373/.458 in 110 plate appearances with three home runs and six steals.

Eaton had a solid spring, going 9-for-32 with four RBI and two steals. However, he only played the outfield in the spring, so it seems like both Andruw Monasterio and Isiah Kiner-Falefa have surpassed him as true utility players.

This one was 4-4 after one, 4-4 after five and then 10-7 Boston after six. The Red Sox added one insurance run from there, which proved important when the Jays scored three times in the ninth. Eaton helped a bunch. One of his doubles was a 408-footer to center that would have been a homer in 20 MLB ballparks. He seemed like a non-tender candidate in November, but the Red Sox liked him enough to keep him on the 40-man, even after signing Isiah Kiner-Falefa and acquiring Caleb Durbin to seemingly knock him out of a projected bench role. He still might get one, however, if Romy Gonzalez opens up on the IL.

Both veterans were originally meant to be short-side platoon players for the Red Sox, but have been thrust into larger roles with injuries to Roman Anthony, Wilyer Abreu, and Marcelo Mayer. Refsnyder has hit .265 in 11 games this month with two home runs and seven RBI, while Gonzalez has hit .340 in 12 games in September with one home run and seven RBI. David Hamilton will start at second base and Nate Eaton will start in right field on Thursday.

With left-hander Cade Povich on the mound for the Orioles, the Red Sox are going with a right-handed-heavy lineup, which includes Refsnyder at DH and batting fifth. Jhostynxon Garcia is also starting in left field and batting ninth, while Nate Eaton will play centerfield and bat sixth.

Eaton went 6-for-24 with two doubles in 12 games for the Red Sox earlier this season. He’ll see time in the outfield against left-handers until Rob Refsnyder returns.

Eaton has been shipped back to the minors with Masataka Yoshida (shoulder) set to be activated from the injured list for Wednesday’s game against the Rockies at Fenway Park. The 28-year-old infielder hit .250 (6-for-24) with three steals in 14 games with the Red Sox after being called up on June 16.

Duran finds himself in the lower third of Boston’s lineup once again with lefty Kyle Freeland taking the ball for Colorado in this one. Nate Eaton has been bumped up to the leadoff spot for the fourth consecutive game.