FORT MYERS, Fla. -- David Ortiz makes his return to the lineup for the first time since March 16 when the Red Sox play the Minnesota Twins at JetBlue Park Thursday afternoon. Ortiz has been dealing with soreness brought on by dehydration, followed by a bout with flu. He has had 15 at-bats this spring, but with the Sox breaking camp a week from Saturday, has time to ratchet that total to a number he is comfortable with.
Last spring, Ortiz had 37 at-bats; in 2013, he missed all of spring training. The lack of activity did not impact his regular-season performance.
The Sox made some roster cuts Thursday. They released reliever Mitchell Boggs, who in his last appearance in an exhibition game March 20, walked three batters on 12 pitches. They assigned left-hander Henry Owens to minor-league camp and optioned outfielder Bryce Brentz, third baseman Garin Cecchini, and right-handed pitchers Heath Hembree and Zeke Spruill to Triple-A Pawtucket. Interestingly, the Sox identified Cecchini as a third baseman-outfielder.
Here is Thursday's Sox lineup:
Mookie Betts, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Hanley Ramirez, LF
Pablo Sandoval, 3B
Mike Napoli, 1B
Shane Victorino, RF
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Wade Miley, LHP