Former Pack star Aaron Bates coming to DBAP

Former N.C. State star Aaron Bates, on the rise in the Boston Red Sox organization, will be coming to Durham Bulls Athletic Park this weekend with the Pawtucket Red Sox.

Pawtucket begins a four-game series against the Bulls on Friday.

Bates, a third-round draft pick of the Red Sox in 2006 after hitting .387 with 22 homers in two seasons at N.C. State, is having a breakthrough season.

The 6-foot-4, 232-pounder began the season with the Double-A Portland (Maine) Sea Dogs and hit .340 with seven homers and 39 RBIs in 52 games.

Bates, a first baseman for the Wolfpack who is now playing left field, was named the Eastern League player of the month in May after hitting .370 (40-for-108) with six homers and 28 RBIs in the month.

That sizzling stretch earned him a promotion to Triple-A Pawtuck on June 8, and he has continued to swing a hot bat.

In his first nine games with Pawtucket, Bates was batting .355 (11-for-31) with two homers and five RBIs.

If he continues to put up those kind of numbers the rest of the season, Bates could realize his dream of making the major leagues. He would be a prime candidate for a September call-up when the big league teams expand their rosters, or could go up sooner if the Red Sox suffer injuries in the outfield.