Mickey Gasper stepped up to the plate in the fifth inning on a windy day in Boston and worked the count full. He gave an aggressive swing on the sixth pitch he saw for a strikeout with two runners on base, but that isn't the worst of it.
Gasper winced after his big swing. On his walk back to the Boston Red Sox's dugout, he flexed his arm and bent his elbow. He pressed his bicep, looking for an issue. A trainer examined him in the dugout before he went down the tunnel and left the game. Connor Wong replaced Gasper behind the dish.
Gasper left the game with biceps discomfort, according to multiple sources including Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. That's a vague diagnosis, but any further injuries are an ugly sign for the Sox. Willson Contreras has been sidelined since he was hit in the hand by a pitch on September 17, just four games after he returned from the injured list with a hamstring injury. The first baseman isn't confident he'll be available for the Wild Card round, and Boston needs all the offensive help it can get without him.
Gasper has cooled down lately, but he's recently off an incredible stint at the plate in the second half of August. He slashed .400/.571/1.100 with three doubles, six home runs and 10 RBI over 12 games last month.
Mickey Gasper pulled from first game of Cubs-Red Sox doubleheader with apparent arm injury following big swing
Even if Gasper has slowed down offensively, he's still proven a home run threat since his red-hot month. He's hit four homers in September, one as recently as September 22, while slashing .196/.328/.451.
If Gasper can't return to play this season, Boston has a few replacement options with the "stay ready" squad in Fort Myers. Romy Gonzalez was scorching with the WooSox in September to the tune of a .371/.410/.571 slash line. Braiden Ward and Tsung-Che Cheng are also there, but Gonzalez is the best pick given his MLB experience and recent heater. He also crushes lefties and the New York Yankees are sure to throw at least two the Red Sox's way during the Wild Card round.
Top prospect Franklin Arias is also part of the Fort Myers squad and he was in Boston on the night of September 24. The shortstop posted a breakout season between Double-A and Triple-A with a .323/.400/.557 28 doubles and 25 home runs over 117 games. The Red Sox have avoided calling Arias up this year when infield injuries cropped up, and they could be reluctant to do so now, in the biggest moment they've had all season.
A healthy Gasper would be a valuable bench option in the postseason, especially now that he's found his home run swing. Instead, the Red Sox have possibly been dealt another injury to work around at the worst possible time.
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