Downs was optioned to Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

EDGE Analysis

Downs opened camp with the big-league club but will now move over to the minor-league side. The 23-year-old spent last season at Worcester and struggled with a .605 OPS and 32.3 percent strikeout rate in 99 games, and he may need a better showing in 2022 to have chance of making his MLB debut.

Downs was added to the Red Sox's 40-man roster Friday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

EDGE Analysis

This was a lock to happen as protection from the Rule 5 draft. Downs had a rough year at Triple-A (.190/.272/.333 slash line), but he finished the 2021 season on a better note, hitting .208/.382/.491 with five home runs and four steals in 68 plate appearances in the Arizona Fall League. It's starting to look like Downs' batting average is going to be subpar, at least initially, against big-league pitching, but his ability to get on base at a high clip while chipping in some power and speed makes him worth monitoring in 2022.

Downs (thumb) has gone 2-for-8 with two stolen bases in his first two games for Triple-A Worcester since being activated from the 7-day injured list Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

Downs spent the minimum amount of time on the shelf with an inflamed thumb. He's been able to showcase his speed since returning to action, but the impact of his running has been somewhat offset by five strikeouts in those two games. The increased amount of swing and miss in Downs' approach at the plate is part of a distributing trend that has persisted throughout the 2021 campaign. He's struck out at a 33.1 percent clip this season, a major reason why he's sitting on a lowly .181 average over 344 plate appearances with Worcester.

Triple-A Worcester placed Downs on its 7-day injured list Monday with thumb inflammation, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

EDGE Analysis

The injury is viewed as a minor one and isn't expected to keep Downs on the shelf for much longer than the minimum amount of time, but it's a frustrating development nonetheless in what's been a disappointing campaign for the 23-year-old. Back in spring training, Downs appeared likely to receive his first big-league call-up at some point in 2021, but that's no longer in the forecast while he's struggled to the tune of a .179/.263/.314 slash line over 336 plate appearances at Worcester. In addition to striking the ball with little authority (28.6 percent hard-hit rate), Downs has seen his strikeout rate balloon to 32.4 percent at Triple-A, a huge jump from the 20 percent rate he posted between stops at High-A and Double-A in 2019.

Downs owns a .181/.271/.32 batting line with 11 homers, 13 steals, 27 RBI and 32 runs in 74 games for Triple-A Worcester this season.

EDGE Analysis

Things haven't been getting better, as Downs has gone 3-for-44 (.068) with 21 strikeouts over his last 13 games. The fact that he's cracked double digits in both homers and steals is well and good, but the rest of his numbers -- including an unsavory 32.2 percent strikeout rate -- are, to be blunt, extremely bad. Maybe he just wasn't (and isn't) ready for Triple-A after playing just 12 games in Double-A in 20219; that's a charitable interpretation of this year's struggles, but Downs' well-rounded skill set and past results suggest that writing him off completely would be a mistake.

Downs went 1-for-2 with a double, two RBI and a run Sunday for the American League squad in its 8-3 loss to the National League in the 2021 Futures Game.

EDGE Analysis

While playing with Triple-A Worcester, Downs sustained a head injury in late June that initially appeared to threaten his availability for the Futures Game, but he returned to action July 1 and went 4-for-23 over his final six games to clear up any concern about his availability for the exhibition. Despite not starting in the Futures Game, Downs provided the AL side's only extra-base hit on the day. The 22-year-old second baseman sports a .686 OPS to go with 12 stolen bases across 188 plate appearances at Worcester this season.

Downs was removed from Tuesday's game with Triple-A Worcester to be evaluated for a head injury, Katie Morrison of MassLive.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 22-year-old suffered the potential head injury on a play at the plate during the sixth inning, as he went tumbling to the ground when he elected not to slide and collided with the catcher. Downs went 1-for-2 with a solo homer and a walk prior to exiting the contest, and he should be considered day-to-day as he continues to be evaluated.

Downs (side) will be available for Saturday's spring game against the Braves, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 22-year-old has been sidelined this week after suffering an injury to his left side last weekend, but he should return to game action Saturday. Downs played 12 games at Double-A in 2019, but he could open 2021 at the Triple-A level after working at the alternate training site last season.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Downs is feeling "OK" after injuring his left side in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cora didn't suggest that Downs would require an MRI, so the 22-year-old appears to have avoided a more serious injury such as an oblique strain. The Red Sox are viewing Downs as day-to-day, but he looks like he'll have a chance to return to the spring lineup later this week.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Downs was removed from Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins due to a left side injury, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cora acknowledged the possibility that Downs might be dealing with an oblique strain, but the Red Sox training staff will likely put the middle-infield prospect through more tests before a firmer diagnosis is made. Downs picked up the injury when he dove after a ball while playing shortstop.