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Hurting and slumping, Ramirez takes a seat
By Peter Abraham
Globe Staff

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Red Sox manager John Farrell has tried moving down Hanley Ramirez in the lineup. On Wednesday, he put the slumping designated hitter on the bench.

Even with righthander Ian Kennedy on the mound for Kansas City, Chris Young was the DH.

“Because he’s had good at-bats,’’ Farrell said.

Farrell also acknowledged that Ramirez is dealing with soreness in both shoulders, not just the right throwing shoulder that has limited him to 12 innings at first base.

“It’s looking like to me that the shoulders are bothering Hanley,’’ Farrell said. “His at-bats have not been what he’s capable [of]. I look upon that as there are physical things that are affecting him.’’

With a runner on second and two outs in the ninth inning, Ramirez pinch hit and flied to center field in a 6-4 loss.

Ramirez is hitting .239 with a .735 OPS. He has nine home runs but only six doubles and 26 RBIs. Among the regular players, only catcher Sandy Leon has a lower OPS. Ramirez has hit .193 with six RBIs in his last 16 games.

Ramirez hit .286 last season with 30 home runs, 28 doubles, and 111 RBIs. His .866 OPS was third on the team.

“To me, getting Hanley back at close to the level he performed at last year would be like a midseason trade,’’ Farrell said. “He was a dominant middle-of-the-order force for us last year.

“We need more production. Here’s the thing: Hanley’s working at it. From his work in the cage to the work on the field offensively, trying to get him back in the middle of the field with a consistent approach. That’s priority No. 1. His presence in our lineup is critical.’’

Farrell said the disabled list is not at option for Ramirez, who has shown occasional flashes of bat speed and power.

“This is an abnormal year for him,’’ Farrell said. “There’s, I think, physically reasons that’s happening.’’

Young is available to DH. The Sox also have rookie first baseman Sam Travis, who has been limited to starts at first base against lefthanders.

First-round pick signs

The Sox signed righthander Tanner Houck, their first-round pick. Baseball America reported he accepted a bonus of $2,614,500, the amount designated by Major League Baseball for the 24th overall selection.

Houck was assigned to Single A Lowell.

Because Houck threw 94⅔ innings in 14 starts for Missouri this season, the Sox are unlikely to work him too hard this summer.

The Sox have announced only four signings but have agreements with several other picks pending physicals. Teams have until July 7 to sign draft picks.

Pedroia not ready

Dustin Pedroia missed his third consecutive game while recovering from a deep bruise on the left side of his back. Pedroia was hit by a pitch on Sunday night and has since had trouble fully swinging a bat.

“We took it out of his hands. He wants to be on the field; he wants to play,’’ Farrell said. “When he went down and tried to swing in the cage, there’s still some restriction there.’’

Pedroia could return on Friday.

“I hope so,’’ he said. “It’s getting there.’’

Eduardo Rodriguez had another productive day. He threw in the bullpen before going through a series of running and agility drills to test his right knee.

Rodriguez is now scheduled for fielding drills on Friday followed by a two-inning, 30-pitch simulated game on Saturday afternoon. That would lead to a minor league rehabilitation game, likely on Thursday.

Rodriguez had a partial dislocation of his right kneecap on June 1 and went on the disabled list the next day. His progress has been quicker than the Sox expected.

Ortiz festivities

The Sox have a day off Thursday. Pedroia and many of the players will attend the sold-out celebrity roast of David Ortiz at the House of Blues. Patriots right end Rob Gronkowski is scheduled to be among the roasters. The over/under on his bar tab has not yet been announced.

Ortiz will have his No. 34 retired at Fenway Park on Friday before the game against the Angels.

The city will get a head start on honoring Ortiz on Thursday when the Yawkey Way Extension is renamed David Ortiz Drive by Mayor Martin J. Walsh. The road connects Brookline Ave. to the Yawkey MBTA station.

Royal family

Xander Bogaerts has a 19-game hit streak against the Royals, the longest for a Sox player since Jacoby Ellsbury went 21 games from 2009-13. Bogaerts is a career .376 hitter (32 of 85) against Kansas City . . . Mitch Moreland was 0 for 3 with a walk. He is 2 for 22 since being hit on the left big toe by a pitch on June 13 and suffering a fracture . . . The Sox have not committed an error in nine consecutive games . . . Joe Kelly, who got the final two outs of the seventh inning, has pitched 17⅓ consecutive scoreless innings. His earned run average is 1.17 . . . Commissioner Rob Manfred and MLB Players Association chief Tony Clark were at the game after spending the morning at the nearby Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. MLB and the Players made a joint donation of $1 million.

Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeteAbe.