The Boston Red Sox currently have four players on the 60-day disabled list. The 60-day in most instances is a death knell for the season.
Austin Maddox had an impressive start to his MLB career in 2017, so impressive that the Boston Red Sox included the 27-year-old on the postseason roster. Maddox was limited to a mere 13 games, producing a stat line of 17.1 IP, 14 K, 2 BB, 1 ER, but the promise was there until shoulder miseries derailed him in 2018.
Maddox had two rehabilitation assignment early in the season at Pawtucket (AAA) and Portland (AA) and accomplished little except to be placed on the 60-day disabled list. On August 16, Maddox was sent to the Red Sox Gulf Coast League (RK) where he has appeared in two games.
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Marco Hernandez is another member of the shoulder club that has gone from Pablo Sandoval to the crisis situation with Chris Sale. For the promising Hernandez, his issue started in May of 2017 with a shoulder subluxation that eventually led to surgery. Hernandez – a lefty hitter – was batting .276 at the time he went DL.
In spring training, Hernandez experienced continuing difficulties with his shoulder and was placed on the 60-day DL. Later it was determined that another surgery on the left shoulder would be necessary and the 26-year-old was done for 2018.
"The 60-day disabled list — or “DL” — is the longest of the three disabled lists in Major League Baseball. Players placed on the 60-day DL must remain on the DL for a minimum of 60 days and are temporarily removed from a club’s 40-man roster, which often makes the list a last resort for clubs. – MLB"
The saga of Carson Smith is well-known as the quirky delivery may have been a contributing factor resulting in Tommy John surgery. After two seasons virtually lost (2016-17), Smith appeared on the track for a return appearing in 18 games. Then it happened.
Smith allowed a home run to Khris Davis and in a petulant fit of frustration decided to see if his glove had the same dynamics as a baseball. It did not and Smith went on the DL with an (I repeat myself) shoulder subluxation that eventually required season-ending surgery.
The saga of Dustin Pedroia is well documented with a knee injury last season, surgery, a long rehabilitation, and subsequent relapse that has placed the effervescent Pedroia on the 60-day DL. So far the results are rather a mystery as Pedroia has been rehabilitating in Arizona in an attempt to salvage some of the 2018 season. Being placed on the list in early August may be the signal the season is over.