Red Sox top prospect Yoan Moncada 'surprised' with promotion
OAKLAND — As a naïve teenager coming out of Cuba in June 2014, Yoan Moncada thought making it to the major leagues meant signing a pro contract. The minors never entered his mind.
Now that he has put in an apprenticeship of nearly two years at Class A and AA, the highly valued Boston Red Sox prospect intends to keep doing exactly what got him here — except at a different position.
The Red Sox surprised Moncada by including him in their September call-ups Thursday, and he met his new teammates in Oakland for Friday's opener of a three-game series against the Athletics, although he was not in the starting lineup. He ended the night 0-for-1 with a walk, run and strikeout.
His mere presence with the big club came unexpectedly.
Moncada, 21, was the MVP of the Futures Game in July and was playing well at Class AA Portland, with 11 homers and a .910 OPS in 45 games, but did not figure Boston would call him up in the middle of a playoff race.
"It was a surprise. I never thought I would be in the big leagues this year," Moncada said in Spanish. "I got very happy and proud when I got the news. I'm here to do my best and to continue doing what I have been doing."
The muscular Moncada, listed as 6-2 and 205 pounds but likely heavier, played mostly second base in the minors but started the last 10 games at third base and played the position for two years in Cuba.
"I feel comfortable at third base, " Moncada said. "I learned in Cuba how quickly the ball gets to you there. The throw is longer, but I don't have any problems with it."
Boston, which started the day two games back of the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League East and two up in the wild-card chase, is seeking increased production at third base, where Travis Shaw and Aaron Hill have struggled in the last several weeks. Red Sox third basemen have a collective OPS of .704, third lowest in the majors. Moncada, who has 45 steals in 57 attempts this year, could also help as a pinch-runner.
Red Sox president Dave Dombrowski would not address weather Moncada's presence was due to the team's offensive decline at third base, but pointed out the speedy switch-hitter can lend a hand in a variety of ways.
"We feel he can come up here and contribute at the big-league level and help us win some ballgames," Dombrowski said.
This being the Internet age, Moncada was deprived the thrill of breaking the news of his promotion to his mother, Caridad Olivera, back in Cuba. He got the news Thursday but could not reach her until Friday morning, and by that point she had already heard.
However, Moncada will have an important if very youthful family member in town this weekend. His son, Robinson, who turns 2 on Sept. 11, will be in attendance.
"I'm very happy to be joining a team that's fighting to get into the postseason," Moncada said. "I am very eager to help the team."