'It's been fun': Newest WooSox player enjoys big first week in Worcester despite being plunked

WORCESTER — Matthew Lugo experienced many firsts with the Worcester Red Sox this week.

The Red Sox prospect collected his first Triple-A hit, first Triple-A home run and first Triple-A hit by pitch in his first four games with the WooSox.

“It’s been fun,” Lugo said before Worcester’s 8-2 win over the Rochester Red Wings Saturday. “Great atmosphere, new stadium, great fans, a lot of attention, which gets exciting, so it’s been great, been having a lot of fun.”

In his WooSox debut Tuesday, Lugo started in left field and batted fifth. The 23-year-old from Puerto Rico went 1 for 3 with two runs, a double and a hit by pitch that grazed his jersey.

A day later, the No. 13-ranked prospect in the organization according to SoxProspects.com, went 1 for 4 with two RBIs, a homer and another hit by pitch — this time off his helmet — before hitting another home run and collecting two more RBIs in Thursday’s win over the Red Wings.

But in his first at-bat Friday, Lugo took a pitch from Rochester right-hander Thad Ward directly off his left wrist. The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder came around to score before being pulled from the game to receive X-rays on his wrist.

“Everything is fine, no broken bones, just a bone bruise,” Lugo said. “It’s all good, just feeling better today.”

“Definitely dodged a bullet,” WooSox manager Chad Tracy said. “I think we were all holding our breaths like, ‘Oh did he fracture his wrist?’ But luckily, he did not.”

With his left wrist in a wrap Saturday, Lugo watched the WooSox wrap up their third straight victory. The nephew of former major leaguer Carlos Beltran earned a promotion to Triple-A Worcester this week after batting .315 with 11 home runs and 35 RBIs in 43 games with Double-A Portland.

“(I’m) excited,” Lugo said earlier this week. “Unexpected to be (promoted to Worcester) this early in the year. But the work I’ve been putting in the offseason, spring training, throughout the year in Portland, has paid off, and just looking forward to getting going in Worcester.”

In four games with Worcester, Lugo is 4 for 12 with two home runs and seven runs.

“I’ve been feeling good,” Lugo said. “I feel like I just kept the rhythm that I had in Portland where I’m trying to just swing at the pitches where I can do damage, and that’s the same thing I was concentrating on this week.”

As for one of his firsts this week, Lugo saved the ball from his double on Tuesday and plans to give it to his parents — who live in Puerto Rico — when he sees them next. His mother has Lugo’s first youth baseball jersey, ball from his first professional hit and — soon to be — ball from his first Triple-A hit.

“My mom is a big collector,” he said.

As for Lugo, he hopes to keep collecting hits with Worcester — and more firsts within the Red Sox organization.

The newest member of the WooSox wouldn’t mind a few less hit by pitches, however.

“Just trying to continue what I’ve been doing. Keeping my routine. It’s a bone bruise, I need to play with the discomfort a little bit to start, but I’m just planning to keep my routine,” Lugo said. “Let’s see how I feel Tuesday.”

—Contact Tommy Cassell at tcassell@telegram.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tommycassell44. 

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Matthew Lugo enjoys big first week with Triple-A Worcester Red Sox