The young shortstop is progressing toward a return.
The Red Sox are 14-2 and lead the majors in runs per game. The hottest team in baseball can become even scarier with improved health. One of those recovering from injury is Xander Bogaerts, who is making significant progress, per MLB’s Doug Padilla.
"Red Sox manager Alex Cora called Tuesday “a great day” when it came to the recovery of shortstop Xander Bogaerts, who is currently on the 10-day disabled list with a small crack in the talus bone in his left ankle."
The injury took place on April 8 when he slid into the Fenway Park dugout to save a misfired throw. The Rays dugout had no interest in assisting the young shortstop, and he left the game after he felt significant pain in his ankle. Despite it being a scary sight for Red Sox fans, Bogaerts’ ankle injury isn’t severe enough to miss extended time. Bullet dodged.
According to Padilla, Bogaerts did some conditioning today. It remains unknown if Bogey is sticking to a strict 10-14 day recovery window.
"Bogaerts ran before Tuesday’s 10-1 win over the Angels, also taking ground balls and participating in batting practice.“I’m working on my window,” Cora said. “Whenever I feel it makes sense for us that he’s healthy and he can go out there and perform the way we want him to perform, he will be out there. As long as he’s making progress.”"
Again, the Red Sox are 14-2. The offense is on such a tear, even guys like Tzu-Wei Lin and Brock Holt are producing. Additionally, Andrew Benintendi is yet to reach his form at the plate, Dustin Pedroia is still recovering from injury and Drew Pomeranz is making his first start of the year this Friday.
As dumbfounding as this may sound, the Red Sox will get even better than 14-2 as the season progresses. There should be absolutely no rush to see Bogaerts back in the lineup. If he isn’t 1,000 percent healthy, sit him — even if that’s for a month. The offense has shown it can pick up the slack and rake away while he recovers.
Apparently, one reporter who wasn’t named questioned when Bogey will make his return.
"Cora was asked if next week’s series at Toronto was a realistic possibility for Bogaerts’ return.“I don’t want to put a place on it, especially that one, because of the turf,” Cora said. “But if he’s ready and capable of doing everything, and I feel comfortable with it, and everybody feels that’s the player we want, yeah. But at the same time, that’s a tough surface.”"
Next: Red Sox rotation back at full strength with return of Drew Pomeranz
This is a perfect response from Cora. There’s no need to give a definitive answer if there isn’t any. Bogaerts’ recovery should be timeless, and rushing him back to play on a hard turf in Toronto isn’t necessary. Cora has pulled all the right strings thus far in 2018, leading the Red Sox to their best start in franchise history. Let’s trust him to handle the Bogaerts situation the right way too.