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Friday Morning Red Sox Lineup: Bryce Brentz Returns Against Baltimore

The Red Sox have split their squad, with the minor league contingency headed to Sarasota to take on the Baltimore Orioles.

By Ben Buchanan
Eric Hartline-US PRESSWIRE

Well, look who's back. After literally shooting himself in the leg six weeks back, Bryce Brentz is set to make his spring training debut Friday afternoon as the split squad Sox head to Sarasota to take on the Baltimore Orioles.

Frankly, it seems unlikely that Brentz' injury has had any real effect on his place in the organization so far. Shane Victorino and Jacoby Ellsbury are locked in as the starters in right and center field, with Jonny Gomes at the very least taking the right-handed at bats in left. That leaves no room for Brentz in the starting lineup, and there's no convincing reason to bring him up to the majors to play on the bench.

Still, he'll have a brief chance to impress in these last weeks of spring training, perhaps giving him a chance to make the majors if one of the others gets hurt, even if Jackie Bradley Jr. is quickly jumping ahead of him as the #4 outfielder.

Boston Red Sox

  1. Brock Holt, 2B
  2. Jose Iglesias, SS
  3. Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
  4. Ryan Lavarnway, DH
  5. David Ross, C
  6. Mauro Gomez, 1B
  7. Mitch Maier, LF
  8. Drew Sutton, 3B
  9. Bryce Brentz, RF
Starting Pitcher -- Clayton Mortensen

No surprise to see a weak group with a split squad game, but seeing Jose Iglesias hit second is pretty...unique. So far, spring hasn't exactly proven revolutionary for the no-bat shortstop, but he has had an odd run of power. While Jose has all of seven hits in 31 at bats, five of those have gone for extra bases.

This game will not grace the airwaves, leaving us without our desired dose of Jackie Bradley Jr. But with the Sox going split-squad, there'll be some starters going tonight against the Twins on NESN.

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