Carlos Febles managed infielder Tzu-Wei Lin early in the 2015 season in Class A Salem, before Lin’s promotion to Portland in mid-July. Lin was batting .281 with a .698 OPS.

But when Febles became manager of Portland last year, it was like he didn’t recognize Lin.

Lin struggled after his promotion and in 2016 was only hitting .213/.509 for the Sea Dogs.

Now? Lin, 23, is still in Portland but tearing up Double-A pitching, batting .353/1.039. His three home runs is already a career high for a season.

“It’s a guy I saw have a great first half for me in Salem a couple years ago. I’ve been missing that guy,” Febles said.

“I know what he’s capable of doing – and he’s doing exactly that. He’s driving the baseball. He’s playing his game.”

His game might play in the majors, and maybe in Boston, especially as a utility player.

Lin is Portland’s starting shortstop. But he also can play second and third, and last year manned center field for five games. He’s a left-handed batter with a sure glove.

“He’s playing lights-out defense,” Febles said.

Lin, an international free agent out of Taiwan at age 18 with a $2 million bonus, is Rule V eligible this offseason. But he won’t be a minor league free agent until after 2018.

It’s conceivable that Lin eventually could replace Pawtucket infielder Deven Marrero, 26, the former first-round pick who was the Sea Dogs’ shortstop in 2013. Since then, Marrero has played in Pawtucket, filling in at Fenway when needed (38 games the previous two seasons).

But Marrero has a .200 major league average and has been worse in Triple-A. He batted .198 in 96 games for Pawtucket last year and is hitting .161 this season. Marrero remains on the 40-man roster but will be out of minor league options after this season.

There could be a place for Lin in Pawtucket with a chance to be summoned to Boston. As long as he doesn’t think about it.

Lin’s problem last year was pressure he put on himself. He didn’t have a great 2015 Double-A season. And after time in the Arizona Fall League, Lin wanted to impress in 2016. But he wasn’t hitting right away and only tried harder, with diminishing results.

“Last year my mind was too much,” said Lin earlier this week, who didn’t use an interpreter for the first time. “I would be looking at the .220 (batting average) and I just wanted a hit. I thought too much.”

Febles noticed a difference this past spring training.

“He said, ‘Listen, I’m having fun this year. It’s not going to be like last year. I don’t care if I go 0-for … I’m going to have fun,’ ” Febles said.

Through seven games, Lin hit .158. Then he took off.

“Last year I wanted to pull everything. This year, I just want to hit the ball hard. That’s it,” Lin said. “That’s what I can do. I can’t control baseball but I can control my mind.”

IN PAWTUCKET, first baseman Sam Travis is showing signs of coming to life. He was batting .207 until the last four games, when he’s gone 6 for 15, all singles. … Henry Owens (2-0, 1.66) allowed five hits, one earned run and two walks in his last start (six innings, five strikeouts). … Aneury Tavarez finally got his promotion from Portland after hitting .377/.948 for the Sea Dogs.

IN PORTLAND, left-hander Jalen Beeks (3-1, 1.99) has pitched seven scoreless innings in each of his last two starts, giving up a total of eight hits and five walks, striking out 11. … Reliever Austin Maddox has yet to allow a run in seven innings (two hits, two walks, seven strikeouts). … Third baseman Rafael Devers (.273/.789) has only two hits in his past six games, but both were homers. He now has three. … Infielder Josh Tobias (obtained in the Clay Buchholz trade) was promoted to Portland after hitting .345/.907 in Salem.

IN SALEM, first baseman Josh Ockimey has four hits in his last nine games and is still batting .347/.1.021. … Third baseman Michael Chavis, after hitting five home runs in a four-game span, has cooled but his numbers remain solid (.327/1.144).

In GREENVILLE, right-hander Shaun Anderson had his “worst” start last week, allowing two runs in six innings. He is still 2-0 with a 1.30 ERA, and 24 strikeouts/seven walks in 272/3 innings.

Kevin thomas can be reached at 791-6411 or:

kthomas@pressherald.com

Twitter: @ClearTheBases