Could injury to Ortiz benefit Ryan Lavarnway?

With the looming long absence of designated hitter David Ortiz the Red Sox are currently exploring players within their organization that could take the place of Ortiz while he is recovering from injury. One of the most recent paths that the manager John Farrell is exploring is right handed hitter and catcher Ryan Lavarnway. With the addition of David Ross in the offseason it was expected that Lavarnway would be the #3 catcher in the organization and would be staring the season with the Pawtucket, the AAA affiliate. Lavarnway has filled the shoes left empty by Ortiz due to injury in the past, he was called up in August of 2011 to be the DH.
The role of designated hitter would not be a new one for Lavarnway who shared time with another prospect, alternating the catcher and DH role with the minor league clubs. While Lavarnway is no David Ortiz at the plate he does provide good power, Farrell had high praise of the youngster saying "This is a guy who has high doubles (capability), upper teens, 20-home run type of guy who's going to hit for a good average. I don't see him as a guy who is susceptible to righthanded or left-handed pitching; I see him as a guy who can handle both". While Lavarnway could improve as a DH with the Red Sox he will never be a full time DH he has much more potential as a catcher, and right now the best place for Lavarnway to develop is in Pawtucket. It is my belief that Lavarnway should be the starting day DH only if the team has no other options. Lavarnway should spend the season in Pawtucket, and if needed be called up to Boston only if injury occurs or if a trade occurs. Lavarnway is one of the future stars of this team and to try to thrust him into this role before he is both physically and mentally ready could set him back and hurt his future success.
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