Red Sox third baseman Will Middlebrooks was batting .333/.380/.677 with nine home runs and 27 RBI in 100 plate appearances for Triple-A Pawtucket at the time of his promotion to the major leagues. And he’s barely slowed down at the next level.
Middlebrooks went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run and two RBI in Saturday’s 8-4 defeat of the Braves.
The 23-year-old native of Greenville, Texas now boasts a .960 OPS, nine homers and 33 RBI through the first 40 games of his major league career. That RBI total through 40 games is the most for any American League rookie since Wally Joyner drove in 38 for the Angels back in 1986. And the most in baseball since Albert Pujols tallied 44 RBI in his first 40 games with the Cardinals to open the 2001 season.
Middlebrooks is here to stay. And Kevin Youkilis is on the move -- possibly to the White Sox.
