Arauz taking advantage of his opportunity

Rookie 2B’s red-hot play means Red Sox have to figure out a way to get Jonathan Arauz a day or two off

Jonathan Arauz has been busy the last two weeks, playing every game but one since August 10 before being taken out of the starting lineup for Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles.

The Red Sox never intended to give their Rule 5 pick this much time on the field, but the 22-year old has done everything possible to ensure manager Ron Roenicke has to think twice about taking him off.

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"He deserves it from what he’s done so far. He’s played good defense; had the one game that was a little bit off but I like what he’s done defensively," Roenicke said. "Being a switch hitter it really helps. I thought he’s had some really nice at bats. I think he deserves it but I hate to just sit him the whole time and just get him in there and then when you need him he’s not sharp."

Over the last two weeks Arauz is hitting .385 (10-for-26), upping his average to .286 on the season. While he lacks some power – no home runs and only two extra base hits over that same time – he has scored three of his four runs this season over that same stretch, including one in Saturday’s extra-inning loss.

Now Roenicke and the Red Sox staff have to plan for something they didn’t think they’d need to when they added Arauz to the roster – finding him days to rest.

"I hate to just sit him the whole time and just get him in there and then when you need him he’s not sharp," Roenicke said. "I think this is a way of helping him but also helping us and what we can do trying to rest some guys. Arauz has been going pretty good, we’ll give him the day off and again having tomorrow off so hopefully the two days will help him recuperate better than just keep grinding it out."

While there’s usually a worry with overuse in dealing with young pitchers, it’s not really the case with an infielder like Arauz. Right now the plan with him – and others, for that matter – comes to do playing people who are getting the job done.

"I know we have some other guys that we’re trying to give that time to," Roenicke said. "With the quality of at bats, with quality of defense that they show us, it’s deserving on some guys whether to play more or not."

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