Red Sox want Moncada to be more focused

TORONTO — Just a week ago, Yoan Moncada was pounding out two hits in his first Major League start and looked primed to play regularly down the stretch. His second Saturday in the Major Leagues was not nearly as fun.

Before a 3-2 loss to the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre, Red Sox manager John Farrell confirmed to the media that the 21-year-old, who has struck out in nine straight at-bats, will likely be used as a reserve for the rest of the season.

And when Moncada got a chance to pinch-run for David Ortiz in the eighth inning and Boston down by a run, he made a glaring mental mistake.

With two outs, Mookie Betts hit a fairly routine popup into short right. Moncada first went halfway and then retreated to first base when the ball was caught by second baseman Devon Travis.

“Yeah, that’s an elementary play, to be honest with you, at this level,” said Farrell. “Two outs, you’re on the move no matter what direction the ball is going in. That’s been addressed and will continue to be addressed.”

Did Moncada — ranked the No. 1 prospect in the Majors by MLB Pipeline.com — know how many outs there were when he came into the game?

“Just a simple confusion on my part,” Moncada said through interpreter Daveson Perez. “That’s basically it.”

Moncada was added to the roster Sept. 1 and was …

continue reading in source mlb.mlb.com