Will Middlebrooks (2008/2011) Makes MLB Debut

It's one Spinner for another at Fenway Park when 2008 Lowell Spinners 3B and Red Sox #1 Prospect Will Middlebrooks makes his Major League Debut for the team Wednesday night, starting at third base.

Middlebrooks came to Lowell in 2008 after being selected out of high school in 2007. He made his professional debut with the Spinners, improving each month, highlighted by a home run against Batavia in the first round of the playoffs that may still be in the air.

Middlebrooks made stops at both Greenville and Salem before having a breakout 2011 season with the Portland Sea Dogs. A mid-season injury found the Eastern League All-Star making a brief rehab stop in Lowell where he showed he was a future star, homering in three of his four games played.

Middlebrooks played in the 2011 Major League Baseball Futures Game and was off to a red-hot start with Triple-A Pawtucket. Through 24 games, Middlebrooks was hitting .333 with 9 home runs and 27 RBI. After coming back from a minor wrist injury, Middlebrooks will now take the place of 2001 Spinner Kevin Youkilis, who hits the 15-Day Disabled List.

Middlebrooks is the second former Spinner to make his major league debut in 2012, joining OF Che-Hsuan Lin who debuted in April. He is the 52nd former Spinner to make his Major League Debut. Congratulations, Will!