The Boston Red Sox have experienced non-stop emotional whiplash since their series against the Baltimore Orioles began on May 23. Alex Bregman left Friday afternoon's game in the fifth inning with quad tightness, and the Red Sox managed 18 runs and a win without him.
After the game, Boston believed Bregman's injury was minor, but he woke up the following morning feeling worse and underwent an MRI. The Red Sox said the third baseman would likely need an injured list stint and called up Marcelo Mayer in response, to the thrill of Sox fans everywhere. The biggest gut punch came after the first game of Saturday's doubleheader — Bregman's injury is severe.
In his May 24 afternoon presser, Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Bregman is "going to be out for a while," with an injury similar to one he had in 2021, which kept him sidelined for around two months. He's been placed on the 10-day IL, but Cora did not give a timeline for his return. Triston Casas has also been moved to the 60-day IL.
A long-term IL stint for Bregman is the last thing the Red Sox need after they stumbled through the easiest part of their schedule with a .500-ish record and when they need another corner infield replacement at first base. Bregman has been Boston's most consistent hitter all season, with a .299/.385/.553 slash line, .938 OPS, 17 doubles and 11 homers. Not only will the Red Sox need to make up for the lost offense, but his absence raises the dreaded question, yet again — will the Red Sox ask Rafael Devers to change positions?
Will the Red Sox ask Rafael Devers to play third base in Alex Bregman's long-term absence?
Devers' feelings toward position changes have been one of the stories of the Red Sox's season. Boston didn't expect his natural position to be open again so soon, and Devers has wielded one of the hottest bats in MLB since he hit his stride as the designated hitter. After his historically poor 0-for-19 start to the season, Devers is batting .303/.419/.561 with a .980 OPS, 15 doubles, 12 homers, an American League-leading 40 walks and 43 RBI.
The Red Sox have a few options to address their new vacancy at the hot corner. They could dare to ask Devers to switch positions again, and he could say yes, since he never wanted to give up third base in the first place. They could also play Romy González there when his IL stint is over, although he recently experienced a setback in his recovery from his quad contusion. Boston could also go a more flexible route, with Ceddanne Rafaela adopting a utility infield role. That move could open an outfield spot for Roman Anthony, but Rafaela's 10 defensive runs saved leads all outfielders, and he's bailed the Red Sox out more times than they can count.
Boston will use Mayer at third base in the second game of its Saturday doubleheader against the Orioles, and it will be interesting to see if that continues. The front office was formerly adamant that top prospects wouldn't be called up until an everyday job opens up at their natural positions, and Mayer only has 48.1 innings of experience at the hot corner in his professional career.
For now, Red Sox Nation's attention is focused on Mayer's debut and collecting a series win against a struggling division rival. But it undoubtedly holds its collective breath as it waits to see if Devers will be asked to change positions for a third time this year.