BOSTON -- Forty-one games into the 2015 schedule, just over a quarter of the season, the Boston Red Sox promoted Cuban outfielder Rusney Castillo to the major leagues. His only prior big league experience came in 10 games at the end of the 2014 season.
"Obviously, I'm very excited, but right now it's just important to keep in mind the job at hand and try to keep the same momentum I had at Triple-A," Castillo said through interpreter Adrian Lorenzo before Friday's game. "Hopefully just add the same kind of energy I was bringing in Triple-A.
"To me, I'm 100 percent, mentally and physically. I thought I did a good job in Triple-A of trying to get to that place. I feel good about where I'm at."
Castillo, who in August signed a $72.5 million contract that was the largest ever given to a Cuban defector, was installed in right field Friday against the Los Angeles Angels. He batted eighth in a revised Red Sox lineup that was missing Pablo Sandoval (sore left knee) for a third straight game but had second-year shortstop Xander Bogaerts batting in the fifth spot for the first time this season. It was Bogaerts' highest placement in the order to date.
Castillo went 1-for-4 and scored in the Red Sox's 12-5 loss to the Angels. He also dropped a fly ball for an error.
Castillo arrives in the same week he was at the side of his wife, Mariela, for the birth of their daughter, Leah. Castillo did not accompany Pawtucket to Louisville but rejoined the PawSox on Thursday and went 1-for-6 with a double and an RBI in an extra-inning loss. He then flew to Boston on Friday morning.
The Red Sox have consistently maintained that Castillo, 27, needed regular at-bats in Pawtucket prior to a call-up. A strained shoulder sustained while making a diving catch kept him out of the lineup from April 11 to April 29, but after going 0-for-11 in his first three games back, Castillo hit .327 (17-for-52) in the subsequent dozen games before his call-up. He was batting .293 with two home runs, five doubles and six stolen bases in 18 games.
Castillo's promotion coincides with a prolonged, team-wide slump. The Sox entered play Friday batting a major league-worst .218 in May, a month in which they have scored two or fewer runs a dozen times, including in six of their previous eight games. They entered Friday batting just .199 with runners in scoring position this season, worst in the majors, and Sox right-fielders were batting a combined .156, more than 37 percentage points behind the second-worst team, Cincinnati (.193).
"Multitalented," Red Sox manager John Farrell said of Castillo before Friday night's game. "[We're] looking for an injection of life into the offense here."
To make room for Castillo on the roster, the Red Sox optioned outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. back to Pawtucket. He had made just three starts and had gone 0-for-11.
"Changes to the roster can provide a spark, no doubt," Farrell said. "Not to put it on Rusney's shoulders, but he's a high energy player, and hopefully, he'll get opportunities to impact the game."
Castillo said he was aware of the team's struggles at the plate.
"It's obviously something you've heard about, but it's not really something I've keyed in on or thought about too much," Castillo said. "I've tried to stay in my lane and continue with my preparation. Obviously, you see the offense has been struggling a little bit, but in terms of being a savior, that's definitely not what I'm thinking about."
Castillo's arrival ultimately will affect the playing time of veteran Shane Victorino, who remains day-to-day with a sore left calf, Farrell said. Farrell said that even before Castillo arrived, he had spoken with Victorino and informed him there would be a rotation of Victorino, Castillo and Mookie Betts in right and center field.
Bogaerts, meanwhile, had hit primarily in the No. 8 spot in the order, but in his previous nine games, he was batting .345 (10-for-29) with a double, triple and home run. If Sandoval were healthy, he likely would have batted fifth against right-hander Garrett Richards.
"The last 10 games, he has swung the bat more consistently," Farrell said of Bogaerts. "There's been increased impact and better leverage to his swing. He's putting up more frequent quality at-bats. We're looking to change things up, get him in the middle of the order in RBI situations."