Red Sox promote top prospect Moncada for stretch run

World Team's Yoan Moncada, of the Boston Red Sox, follows through on a two-run home run. (Lenny Ignelzi/AP)

BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox will add hyped prospect Yoan Moncada to the major league roster prior to a game at Oakland on Friday.

The team announced the move Wednesday night. The Cuban infielder signed with Boston for $31.5 million in February 2015 in a deal that cost the Red Sox $63 million due to a tax penalty on international amateur free agents.

The 21-year-old Moncada will report from Double-A Portland, where he is hitting .285 with 11 homers and nine stolen bases in 44 games. He opened the year with Class A Salem, where he hit .307 with four homers and 36 steals in 61 games.

The switch-hitting second baseman got off to a slow start in 2015, batting .200 with one homer in the first half of the season with Class A Greenville. He’s since become one of the minors’ most productive players and one of baseball’s top prospects behind a varied skillset.

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