Cora preaching patience with Devers
Slugger close to rejoining Sox lineup
Rafael Devers’ shoulder kept him out of the lineup for a third consecutive game, and if Alex Cora has his way, the third baseman will sit out Sunday, too.
“I’m shooting for Monday,” the Red Sox manager said before Saturday afternoon’s game. “He’s shooting for tomorrow, so we’ll have a debate about that.”
“I just want to make sure he’s OK,” Cora added. “He’s too important for us. And if he goes out there, he plays and he feels it, what’s the point? At that point, we got to put him on the IL. So, I’d rather just wait and be patient with him, and from my end I’m shooting for Monday. He prefers tomorrow.”
Though the mere mention of a stint on the injured list is concerning, Cora clarified that Devers is improving.
“He’s getting better, he’s progressing, he feels a lot better compared to where he was, so you got to trust him,” the skipper said. “The swing is different right now, trying to protect it. You can see, he’s not, he wasn’t staying inside the ball like he was in spring training. Swing and misses bother him, so I think this is the best way of taking this.”
Without Devers in the lineup the last two nights, the Red Sox went 11-for-66 (.167) with five doubles, one home run (Connor Wong) and only four runs scored. They drew four walks and struck out 17 times.
However, the shoulder is clearly preventing the slugger from being his usual productive self. Over 10 games, he’s managed just seven hits in 38 at-bats (.184), two doubles, two home runs, three RBI and five runs scored. He has, however, shown more patience at the plate, drawing more walks (7) than he’s struck out (6).
The Sox haven’t gone into specifics about the shoulder ailment, but Cora said he was “not really” concerned noted that Devers could injure it further, and that in a higher-stakes setting, the slugger would be in the lineup.
“Probably later on in the season, he’ll play through,” he said. “I think we’ll take care of this and he should be fine.”
Grissom energized
Vaughn Grissom began his rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester Friday night, and though he went 0-for-3 as the designated hitter, Cora was pleased with the results.
“He brought energy down there,” Cora said Saturday. “A good athlete. We’re excited that he’s finally able to play.”
Grissom debuted with the Atlanta Braves — at Fenway Park of all places — in August 2022. Over 64 regular-season games across the past two seasons, he’s hit .287/.339/.407 with 62 hits, 13 walks, and 49 strikeouts.
The Boston lineup could use an infusion of new energy. Over their first four home games of the season, they’re 21-for-128 (.164) with a .498 OPS, five doubles, three home runs, 10 runs scored, 10 walks and 40 strikeouts.
That said, the Red Sox aren’t going to rush the infielder, whom they acquired for Chris Sale just before the new year.
“We just gotta be patient now,” said Cora. “Just take the right steps and whenever he’s ready, he’s ready.”
“He’s gonna need a lot,” he said.. “No games in spring training, repetitions at second base obviously… We have to be patient.”
With Trevor Story out for the season, the middle infield has become something of an immediate black hole over the last week. Entering Saturday, the Sox lead the Majors with 16 errors committed and 19 unearned runs, including 11 errors and 15 unearned runs over their seven games since the shortstop’s injury in Anaheim last Friday.
Grissom projects to be the team’s everyday second baseman, but shortstop is an option, too.
“Not much,” Cora said. “We have to make sure he gets the second base part of it … that’s how we envision him.”
Extra bases
Rob Refsnyder is also progressing in his rehab assignment with the WooSox. After striking out in all three at-bats on Wednesday, he went 2-for-3 with a double and run in Friday’s contest.
“Ref is asking for more at-bats,” Cora updated. “Ref had a good day (Friday) and he feels like he’s OK… so far, so good.”
Grissom and Refsnyder will play in the WooSox series finale in Syracuse on Sunday before temporarily rejoining the team for the annual Marathon Monday morning game at Fenway. They’ll resume their assignments when the next Triple-A homestand begins on Tuesday.
Cora runs 5K
Before Saturday afternoon’s game, Cora participated in the Boston Athletic Association’s 5K.
“Fun, man,” he said. He was joined by hitting coach Pete Fatse, among others.
The race, which begins and ends at Charles Street by the Public Gardens and Boston Common, is one of several pre-Marathon Monday events around the city. The Red Sox will continue their own Marathon Monday tradition, playing at 11:10 a.m.