CHICAGO - Second baseman Jed Lowrie was a late scratch from Oakland’s lineup Saturday, creating an opening for top prospect Franklin Barreto to make his big-league debut.
Initially, manager Bob Melvin planned to hold Barreto out because there was no on-field work before Saturday’s game at Chicago - the White Sox were using the field for a pregame ceremony honoring former Chicago starter Mark Buehrle. But Lowrie’s injury left Melvin with no choice, not that he was complaining.
“If he had gotten out on the field to take some groundballs, I probably would have started him,” Melvin said.