Boston Red Sox

SALEM, Va. — Children are everywhere.

Some are running on the grass behind the first base stands at Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium. A handful are playing whiffle ball inside a miniature version of Fenway Park, complete with a diminutive Green Monster, near the main entrance. Others are eating ice cream and hot dogs.

A few are even watching baseball.

This seemed to be the state of the Boston Red Sox's starting rotation at the outset of 2016: a true ace in David Price, a few guys they hoped could be his co-ace, and a knuckleballer who figured to be neither.

This is yet another reason there's a file marked "Can't Predict Baseball."

Less than two years after lavishing Rusney Castillo with a $72.5 million contract, the Boston Red Sox placed the Cuban outfielder on waivers. Castillo later cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Pawtucket.

"The greatest hitter who ever lived" gave Claudia Williams a batting clinic that spanned two decades.

Player: Jason Groome

Position: LHP

DOB: Aug. 23, 1998 (Age: 17)

Height/Weight: 6'6", 220 lbs

Bats/Throws: L/L

School: Barnegat High School (New Jersey)

College Commitment: Vanderbilt

Background

And now for a question that's not as absurd as it should be.

Fact: Mookie Betts (23) became the fourth-youngest Boston Red Sox player dating back to at least 1913* to hit three home runs in a game. Joe Lahoud (22), Jim Tabor (22) and Fred Lynn (23) are the only players to do so at a younger age.

*Data available to B/R only goes back to 1913.

Bleacher Report will be bringing sports fans the most interesting and engaging Cold Hard Fact of the day, presented by Coors Light.

Source: B/R Insights

MLB released its first round of All-Star Game voting results Tuesday, and two Boston Red Sox players are leading at their respective positions.

Mookie Betts isn't one of them.

The New England Patriots will likely lose at least one prominent viewer should Tom Brady's four-game Deflategate suspension remain in place. 

In an interview with Sports Illustrated's Andy Gray, Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz spoke of his dissatisfaction with Deflategate:

Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz was a late scratch prior to Sunday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays with a sore left foot. However, he has since returned to action.

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