Add Young to list of injured
Add Chris Young to the Red Sox’ ever-growing list of walking wounded. The left fielder has been sent to the disabled list after departing yesterday’s 8-7 win over the White Sox in the second inning with a right hamstring strain.
Young rifled a ball off the Green Monster, but went down in a heap as he rounded first base, clutching the hamstring. Young needed to be helped off the field and didn’t put any weight on it as he was lifted to the dugout.
“From what you saw on the field, we’re hopeful that it’s not as severe,” Sox manager John Farrell said. “He felt a little popping sensation when he was rounding first base. So he’s going on the disabled list. The corresponding move has yet to be made, but this is significant enough that we can make the DL call right now.”
After the injury occurred, Xander Bogaerts, who hit the game-winning single in the 10th inning, said the entire lineup was feeling deflated.
“Once he pulled his hamstring, I think right there, that was a huge letdown for us in the dugout,” Bogaerts said. “We all kind of felt bad right away because we saw how bad it potentially could be. He’s been a huge part of the success we’ve been having so far, especially since he’s been playing a lot more regularly.”
The Sox already lost platoon outfielders Blake Swihart and Brock Holt to injuries. Holt went 0-for-2 in another rehab start for Pawtucket last night, although he’s still experiencing concussion symptoms. Farrell was firm that Holt won’t be rushed back.
“We wouldn’t do anything before he’s ready,” Farrell said. “He’s not ready yet.”
There’s cause for optimism with Swihart’s recovery from a sprained ankle, but Farrell cautioned that he’s still quite a ways out.
“He’ll come out of the boot and go into a brace, so he’s making steady process,” Farrell said. “He’ll begin to get more into a regular throwing program now that he can be weightbearing without a boot on. We’re not at the point of putting a bat in his hand, whether it’s a torquing or twisting or rotational type of movement on that foot.
“But still, him getting into a brace and beginning to throw is probably fairly far ahead of what we first anticipated coming out of the injury. So encouraging, but still a ways to go.”
Shaw takes left turn
At the beginning of the day, Travis Shaw’s shin was too sore to start. By the eighth inning, the third baseman was playing left field.
After pinch-hitting for Young’s replacement Ryan LaMarre in the seventh inning, Shaw stayed in left. It’s a position he’d played briefly in spring training, and had only logged three innings as a major leaguer.
“They asked me to make sure I was OK with it, and it felt good enough,” Shaw said. “I did want to hit, especially in that situation.”
Shaw came up with the bases loaded, and hit a sacrifice fly to deep right. Standing on first base, David Ortiz thought it was a grand slam. The designated hitter put both hands up in celebration, but the wind knocked the ball down on the track.
It didn’t take Shaw long to see some action when he took his place in left field. In the eighth, the White Sox had the bases loaded with nobody out when J.B. Shuck hit a fly ball his way. Shaw camped under the ball and made the catch, then uncorked a pretty solid throw back into the infield. Brett Lawrie elected not to tag from third, leaving Shaw to joke that his fielding abilities had already earned the respect of his opponents.
“It’s different, but it’s something I’ve practiced before,” Shaw said. “And he didn’t run, so apparently the scouting report is out: don’t run.”
It’s highly unlikely the Sox will keep Shaw in left with a roster move forthcoming, but he’s willing to keep at it if called upon.
“I think that was kind of an emergency situation type thing, but I’m open to whatever they want,” Shaw said.
Hanigan makes rehab start
Catcher Ryan Hanigan also started for the PawSox last night as he rehabs a neck injury. Hanigan served as the designated hitter and went 1-for-3, but he hasn’t caught yet. . . .
The Red Sox inked five more draft picks yesterday. Catcher Alan Marrero (eighth round), pitcher Kyle Hart (19th), outfielder Granger Studdard (22nd), and pitchers Hunter Smith (24th) and Jared Oliver (26th) will report to the Gulf Coast League. Twelve of the Sox 40 draft picks are now under contract.