Red Sox Injury Update
The Red Sox list of walking wounded had one less name on it before the game on Monday as Ryan Sweeney was activated from the 7-day concussion DL. Good news for the Sox as Sweeney had a nice offensive day at the plate and reinforces the outfield man power. But the news wasn’t all good as Dustin Pedroia jammed his thumb while making a highlight reel diving snag to rob the Tigers of a base hit. No word yet on Pedey’s condition and whether or not he’ll miss any significant playing time. For now let’s get you caught up on the rest of the injured Red Sox players courtesy of Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe.
Let’s start with the pitching:
– Aaron Cook – after having the stitches removed from the nasty gash on his knee, the wound broke open again that delayed his rehab stint. Cook has resumed throwing and is likely a couple weeks away from muddying up the Sox starting rotation yet again. Let’s hope this time it’s not Josh Beckett who misses a start.
– Daisuke Matsuzaka – in what is being deemed his second rehab program, Dice-K threw five scoreless innings on Saturday in what was his best pitching performance in likely two years if you count his time with the Red Sox last season. He only allowed two base runners one of which was a single and wasn’t bothered by the neck injury that has set his return back. Matsuzaka only threw 56 pitches in the outing but his schedule was either the fifth inning or 75 pitches, which ever came first. He will need to be stretched as a starter in his next few outings before he’s ready to rejoin the big club, likely in a two to three weeks.
– Andrew Bailey – the former Athletic’s close has resumed throwing activities and has recently successfully tossed from 60 feet. His return is likely around the all-star break given he hasn’t thrown off the mound yet and would need a near full rehab stint.
The list of position players is a tad longer, namely the outfielders:
– Jacoby Ellsbury – Abraham reports that the all-star center fielder is playing catch but that isn’t something to write home about given he throws with his left and injured his right shoulder. Still no reported timetable making a July return possible but doubtful with every passing week.
– Carl Crawford – a name that has almost been forgotten about given we haven’t seen him at all this year. The news at this point isn’t much better. Crawford is taking 40-50 swings in the cage reports Abraham but as he points out he isn’t yet throwing the baseball, something that will be required as an outfielder as CC isn’t DH material. Timetable? Heck we’ll be lucky to see him by September at this rate.
– Cody Ross – this guy is a little more pressing to have back in the lineup given his production at the plate this season. His injured foot is on the mend, at least to Ross it is. Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald reported that Ross informed Valentine his foot was feeling great and expects to be activated as soon as he’s eligible which is June 5th according to Silverman. Sometimes what the players feel and what the doctors diagnose are two different things, so let’s hope Cody is right on this one and we see him back in early June.
– Darnell McDonald – is scheduled to play the full game in Pawtucket on Monday and Abraham reports that no timeline has been set as to how long his rehab stint will take. Currently he’s 0 for 5 at the plate begging for more time at the minor league level to work on his timing. Given he’s only hitting .179 on the season with Boston it may not be his timing but more his ability, something that has held him back his entire career.
– Jason Repko – after slamming into the Green Monster and separating his shoulder, Repko is apparently close to a rehab stint but as Abraham points out he may not have a roster spot when he’s fully recovered. Given how Marlon Byrd and Scott Podsednik have stepped up in the injury riddled outfield, Repko, a soft hitting batter may be looking for work outside of Boston.
– Ryan Kalish – the once promising prospect who has battled injuries of late is set to join class A Salem where he will DH starting this week. Kalish was in line to compete for the starting right field job this year and at this rate seeing him as a September call up may be his only chance to wear a Red Sox uniform this year.
Whewwww. That takes care of them all, at least those that we’ll see returning at some point this season. The likes of John Lackey and company are done for the year so no point in talking about them; especially Lackey, he still makes my blood boil.