Sean Coyle Misses Game After Taking Grounder to Face During Warmups

(Photo Source: Yawkey Way Report)

Via Yawkey Way Report

Red Sox infield prospect Sean Coyle was scratched from the lineup in Thursday's contest against the New York Mets at Tradition Field, after taking a ground ball to his face during warm ups.

The injury left Coyle needing three stitches, and Jemile Weeks started in his place at third base.
The 23-year old has driven in one run on a double in three at-bats so far this spring, to go with a walk and a stolen base.

Coyle spent his 2014 season with the AA Portland Sea Dogs, where he hit .295/.371/.512 in 96 games to go with 16 home runs and 61 RBI.

He recently compared his offensive approach to former Red Sox hero, Ted Williams.

“My dad had the Science of Hitting and the pages were falling out,” Coyle said in an interview with WEEI.com. “Me and brother went through it. At first we just liked to look at all the pictures of baseballs and averages. Then we started to read into it. It started there.

“I’m a firm believer in a lot of things Ted Williams had to say about hitting -- the hips lead the swing. Everything starts from the ground up, for sure.”

Due to his lack of physical size, Coyle looks to fellow Red Sox infielder Dustin Pedroia for inspiration.

“I look at him as someone who doesn’t need to be seven-foot tall to act like it,” Coyle stated in the WEEI interview. “I really look up to him and how he goes about things and how he’s unfazed and how he’s confident despite what people have to say about him.”

Although every avenue to the Red Sox infield is seemingly blocked at this point in time, Coyle could represent a valuable trade piece later in the season. Coyle has spent considerable time at second and third base, and if he can replicate his offensive performance from 2014, there should be plenty of teams lining up to acquire his services.