Red Sox Injury Update: Ellsbury & Kalish Nursing Nagging Injuries

As the schedule starts to wind down on the 2012 season, the injury bug continues to pester the Red Sox and their everyday players.  Both outfielders, Jacoby Ellsbury and Ryan Kalish are nursing nagging injuries that will keep them out of Sunday’s game against the Oakland A’s, the finale of a three-game set that could be the second straight series in which the Red Sox are swept away.

Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe reports from Oakland that Ellsbury is out of the lineup with a sore right wrist. It is unclear when or how Ellsbury sustained the injury and it’s not clear at this point as to how long the speedy centerfielder will be out of game action.

On the season, Ellsbury has a slash line of .267/.309/.371/.680 with 2 home runs and 16 RBI through 54 games.  Hardly the numbers one came to expect from the runner-up for AL MVP last season, but given he missed most of the year with a nasty shoulder injury, it’s just nice to see him back and playing on a regular basis.

Ellsbury has been the topic of conversation lately when discussing potential long-term contract extensions with the Red Sox. His agent, Scott Boras has already hinted that Ellsbury deserves superstar money and that he’s proven he can perform up to that level.  Maybe so, but if he can’t stay healthy long enough to fulfill those expectations, is he worthy of the gigantic contract?

As far as Kalish goes, the proposed outfielder of the future, he has only played in two games since being recalled on August 28, which amounts to just 5 at-bats.  The shoulder injury would explain his limited game action.

Through 27-games this year, Kalish is hitting for a low line of just .202/.244/.238/.483.  He has no home runs and just 5 RBI in 84 at-bats.  The 24-year old has had an injury filled start to his career that has limited his playing time in the big leagues.