Notes: Dalbec cleared; second-base battle

BOSTON -- The Red Sox got some good news on the health front, as highly touted prospect and slugger Bobby Dalbec was cleared to join Summer Camp after being delayed due to testing positive for COVID-19.

The right-handed-hitting corner infielder worked out at Boston College on Saturday, but he will join the main squad at Fenway Park on Sunday.

“He hasn’t done much for a couple of weeks, so we went pretty slow with him,” said Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke. “Just hit some ground balls to him, he threw a little bit and then took some soft-toss swings in the cage.”

Dalbec is ranked No. 3 among Red Sox prospects by MLB Pipeline. Though the Red Sox are currently set at the corners, with Mitch Moreland and Michael Chavis at first and Rafael Devers at third, having Dalbec in the Player Pool will come in handy if there is an injury or illness to someone else.

The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Dalbec has been with the Red Sox the past two springs. He also spent some time at Fenway Park in the final week of last season getting tutelage from the coaching staff.

In 383 Minor League games, Dalbec has 79 homers, 256 RBIs and a sturdy .867 OPS.

Second-base competition unfolding
Roenicke was asked whether free-agent second baseman José Peraza should be considered the starter, though Chavis is also jockeying for playing time at that spot.

“I don’t really want to say that somebody is the starter and somebody’s not,” Roenicke said. “I think the thing when we signed Peraza was, we know he can play every day. He’s been a big leaguer for a while. I was with him back shortly with the Dodgers in ‘15, so I got to see him then.

“But we know he can play every day if we need him to play every day. And then it just depends on how he does. If Chavis is doing offensively what we saw at times last year, then he’s going to play a lot. So, I think, between the two guys, we feel really confident in what they can do.”

Look for Chavis to play at first against lefties, which will allow Moreland to get some rest.

“Peraza can move around also. He can move to short. He plays left field. He can play third. He hasn’t played a lot of third, but he can play it. So, we’re able to move guys around, and that kind of covers us,” said Roenicke.

Pillar gaining comfort in right
Veteran Kevin Pillar, as a visitor, started 42 games in center field at Fenway, including 40 as a starter. But he’s only played one game there in right, which is where he is expected to get most of his time with the Red Sox this season.

Pillar has been getting a crash course on Fenway’s unique right-field dimensions during Summer Camp.

“The dimensions out there is something that I’m starting to get more comfortable with,” said Pillar. “I take all my work out exclusively in right field especially now that we’re here in the stadium just getting comfortable with the configurations out there.

“I’ve been here many times, and it’s a place I have many fond memories coming as a visiting player and I know that center field as well as anyone. Just getting my work in right field is just something that’s extremely important to me still.”