When the Boston Red Sox learned of Marcelo Mayer's wrist sprain, they feared his season might be over. Instead of opting for season-ending surgery, Mayer got a cortisone shot in hopes of taking the field again this year.
The young infielder was sidelined from baseball activities following his shot while Boston waited to see if it worked. Mayer reported a "100 percent" difference in his pain before and after the injection, and he resumed baseball activities on August 11, while the Red Sox were on their road trip in Houston.
Red Sox Marcelo Mayer plays catch, resumes baseball activities after wrist sprain, cortisone shot
Mayer played catch on Monday to restart his baseball activities, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive. Mayer's wrist feeling well enough to play catch is a great sign for Boston, which needs all the depth it can get as September approaches, but he still has a lot of work to do before returning to action.
Mayer has been on the injured list since July 24, and sure-fire center field Gold Glover Ceddanne Rafaela has played a lot of second base in his absence. The Red Sox need Mayer back in action to field their best lineup every day, which will only be more important as the end of the season nears.
Red Sox Hunter Dobbins undergoes ACL repair surgery, Tanner Houck hasn't had Tommy John surgery yet
Hunter Dobbins on August 12 underwent surgery to repair his torn ACL. Dobbins sustained the injury on July 11 as he ran to cover first on a ground ball hit by the Rays' speedy outfielder, Chandler Simpson. He made the play, but not without consequence.
ACL surgery recovery times can range from six months to a year, and it could take even longer for Dobbins to get back to full strength. It's safe to say the Red Sox won't be seeing him on the mound until at least a few months into the 2026 season.
Tanner Houck is also expected to undergo surgery soon to repair damage to his UCL, but he has not had the procedure yet, according to Smith. Boston on August 2 announced that Houck would have Tommy John surgery, but said it hadn't yet been scheduled.
Something looked awry with Houck from the jump in 2025. He was fresh off a breakout and his first All-Star nomination from 2024, but posted an 8.04 ERA over nine starts to start the season. The longer the Red Sox wait on his surgery, the odds that he'll be out for the entire 2026 season increase.