Moncada benefits from first big league stint
BOSTON -- While the numbers may not show it, the Red Sox believe No. 1 prospect Yoán Moncada's time with the club during the final month of the regular season was beneficial for the 21-year-old.
After being called up from Double-A Portland on Sept. 2, Moncada played in eight games, going 4-for-19 with a double and one RBI. He also struck out in his final nine at-bats.
"He didn't benefit from the strikeouts per se, but having the experience to be here and see what it is like is helpful to any player," said Dave Dombrowski, Red Sox president of baseball operations, on Tuesday.
• Top 30 Red Sox prospects
The hardest adjustment for Moncada during his stint with the club proved to be his inability to hit offspeed pitches when falling behind in the count.
Moncada will head to Arizona this offseason to play in the Arizona Fall League.
"No matter how good you are as a player at the Major League level, with rare exceptions, adjustments and struggles happen," Dombrowski said.
"You can't replicate what happens in the Majors. You can tell people, but they have to experience it."