First Round Pick, Jason Place, Joins Sea Dogs

Portland, Maine- Outfielder Jason Place, the Red Sox 2006 first round draft pick, has been assigned to Double-A Portland from Single-A Salem. Place will wear uniform # 10. Outfielder Matt Sheely has been placed on the disabled list.

Place, 21 years-old, has appeared in 76 games for the Salem Red Sox of the Carolina League this season batting .252 (76-for-302) with four home runs and 48 RBI. He is tied with teammate Luis Exposito for the Carolina League lead in doubles with 24.

The right-handed batter, Place, set career highs with 88 runs scored, 19 homers, and 65 RBI in 114 games at Single-A Lancaster in 2008. The Easley, South Carolina resident was the Red Sox first pick (27th overall) in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft. He hit .463 (165-for-356) with 36 homers, 134 RBI, 174 runs, and 90 steals in 236 career games over five seasons for Wren (SC) High School. He was honored as the 2006 Gatorade High School Player of the Year.

Sheely has split time this season between the Sea Dogs and Single-A Salem. In 21 games for Portland, he is batted .238 (10-for-42) with three RBI and five runs scored. In 35 games with Single-A Salem this season, Sheely hit .256 (21-for-82) with six RBI and ten stolen bases. The 22 year-old Sheely spent the 2008 season with Single-A Lancaster where he hit .218 with 12 RBI in 65 games. He was selected by the Red Sox in 48th round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft.

The Portland Sea Dogs begin a four game series with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats at 7:00 PM on Friday night at Hadlock Field. It is the final series before the Eastern League All-Star break. The Sea Dogs enter the action tonight with a 41-44 record, 2.5 games out of a playoff spot. Tickets are available for most 2009 Portland Sea Dogs' home games. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Sea Dogs Ticket Office at 207-879-9500 or online at www.seadogs.com.