He has a career .251 batting average in the minor leagues, and he is only 20.

But the Boston Red Sox seem in a hurry with Wendell Rijo.

While he has yet to have a breakout season, the Red Sox keep promoting Rijo, a second baseman who is the youngest player in the Eastern League. He has played 38 of 40 games for the Portland Sea Dogs, despite batting only .174.

“We understand he’s young for the level,” said Red Sox director of player development Ben Crockett. “He’s certainly a work in progress, and has a lot of things to continue to improve upon. Right now, he’s grinding.”

We can deduce three reasons why Rijo is already in Double-A:

n One, Rijo does show potential. Despite his numbers, Baseball America ranks him the 15th-best prospect in the Red Sox organization (the highest-ranked Sea Dog until Andrew Benintendi showed up).

“It’s his tools, man,” Sea Dogs Manager Carlos Febles said. “He has a good swing. The ball jumps off his bat. Now, it’s about him being consistent at the plate.

“I see a guy who can hit 15 home runs. He could hit .280, .290; who knows? He’s coming along defensively.”

n Two, Rijo appears confident enough to handle failure and keep working. Last year, when he was the youngest player in the advanced Class A Carolina League, he was batting .239 for Salem on July 30. He batted .308 the rest of the way, upping his average to .260.

“I think the key is to stay confident,” Rijo said. “It doesn’t matter how you start, but how you finish, like in Salem.

“I like the challenge. It’s awesome to play against guys who have a lot of experience.”

n Three, Rijo really had nowhere to go but up. Even if Rijo expanded his infield play beyond second base (he played four games at shortstop in Salem), Salem’s infield is full of some of Boston’s best prospects – third baseman Rafael Devers, shortstop Mauricio Dubon and the No. 1 prospect, second baseman Yoan Moncada.

Rijo had to come to Portland or likely take a backup role.

Despite Febles’ projections of power, Rijo had six home runs in Salem, and only one this year.

But, again, he is young.

“We’re letting him adjust, giving him the opportunity,” Sea Dogs hitting coach Jon Nunnally said. “He’s got a quick bat. He puts the barrel on the ball and it jumps.

“Ignore the numbers because the numbers will take care of themselves when you start getting disciplined with what you’re trying to do.”

Rijo is hanging in there.

“I think I can do a good job,” he said. “Just trying to do the things I know I can do, and we’ll see what happens.”

IN TRIPLE-A Pawtucket, rising first base prospect Sam Travis tore the ACL in his left knee Sunday during a rundown. The Red Sox announced Travis will soon undergo surgery and be out for the season.

Pawtucket left-hander starter Roenis Elias, acquired from Seattle in the Wade Smiley-Carson Smith deal, had put together two solid starts, heading into Monday night’s game against Gwinnett – pitching into the eighth inning both games, allowing a total of three earned runs on eight hits and two walks and striking out 21. On Monday, Elias allowed four earned runs in the fourth inning and left after a scoreless fifth.

The PawSox bullpen has some intriguing arms that may help Boston later in the season. Pat Light (3.12 ERA/1.21 WHIP) already had his cup of coffee and he’s looked sharp in his last six appearances (one earned run/eight strikeouts). Another former Sea Dogs bullpen mate, lefty Robby Scott (3.13/1.11) continues his unique success against right-handed hitters (.213 average), but left-handers are hitting .275 against him. Anthony Varvara (2.95/1.03) has 24 strikeouts and seven walks in 211/3 innings.

IN DOUBLE-A Portland, catcher Jake Romanski remains the team’s leading hitter with a .317 average.

IN HIGH CLASS A Salem, the aforementioned trio of Moncada, Dubon and Devers has been struggling. Moncada went 0 for 4 Monday and is batting .154 over his last 10 games, dropping his average to .295. Dubon’s average is .305, even after hitting .206 his last 10 games. Devers slumped all April, came alive in early May, but is back down to .195.

IN CLASS A Greenville, the Drive won 1-0 Monday on some pitching gems and first baseman Josh Ockimey’s ninth home run. Ockimey, 20, was a fifth-round draft pick in 2014 out of high school. Ockimey, 6-foot-1, 215 pounds, is batting .297 with a 1.002 OPS.

Top pitching prospect Anderson Espinoza (4-4, 3.43) gave up one hit and four walks over five innings, striking out four on Monday. Left-hander Bobby Poyner recorded his 11th save with two innings of work (one hit and three strikeouts).

Poyner, 23, was a 14th-round draft pick out of the University of Florida. His ERA is 0.38 and he has 31 strikeouts and no walks in 26 innings. Given his age and stats, Poyner should be in Salem.