Red Sox to bench Kevin Youkilis indefinitely

Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine has informed third baseman Kevin Youkilis that will be benched for a period of time in favour of rookie Will Middlebrooks.   

“He doesn’t necessarily totally agree with it,” Valentine said via the Boston Herald. “He doesn’t wake up in the morning and think about it. The professional person that Kevin is, he understands it. I think he’s fine.”

In 38 games this season, Middlebrooks has 31 RBI with a .551 slugging percentage. Meanwhile, Youkilis has just 2 home runs and 4 RBI since returning from the disabled list on May 22 with a strained back.