Catcher Matt Wieters #32 of the Baltimore Orioles takes the throw as infielder Lars Anderson #62 of the Boston Red Sox slides in safely during a Grapefruit League Spring Training Game at Ed Smith Stadium on March 11, 2012 in Sarasota, Florida.

When the Boston Red Sox signed Adrian Gonzalez, the future for Lars Anderson as the first baseman in Boston pretty much went by the wayside.

He spent all of last year toiling in Triple-A with the Pawtucket Red Sox and was almost traded to the Oakland A’s at the trade deadline for Rich Harden. Unfortunately for him, that trade fell through and he was still a man without a home in the big leagues.

The Red Sox had Anderson play some outfield during spring training and he’s seen time there with the PawSox this season. And now his versatility has paid off, at least for now.

With Jason Repko crashing into the wall on Friday afternoon and an eventual diagnosis of a separated shoulder, the Red Sox were left shorthanded in the outfield on Saturday. And even with the acquisition of Marlon Byrd, the Red Sox felt they needed another outfielder.

So with the game being postponed on Sunday night, the Red Sox have decided to put Repko on the disabled list and call up Anderson from Triple-A.

In 15 games with the PawSox this season, Anderson is hitting .255 with one home run and eight RBIs. Of those 15 games played, he saw action in eight of them in the outfield handling all six balls hit his way.

Anderson has appeared in 24 games for the Red Sox in two September callups the past two season and is hitting .175 with four RBIs. Most of his action last year came as a defensive replacement.

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photo credit: Getty Images