Sox finally get some relief
No new positive cases, Hernandez ‘close to 100%’
The Red Sox finally got some good news on Thursday amid their COVID-19 outbreak — for the first time since Saturday, there were no new positive tests or close contacts.
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Ten members of the organization, including eight players, have been forced to quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19 or being deemed a close contact since the Red Sox’ road trip began last Friday. But Thursday allowed at least a temporary sigh of relief for the team.
“Somebody texted me today,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “It was like, ‘How are you feeling?’ I was like, ‘Positive — positive in a negative way, or whatever it is.’ It was a good day today. Nothing to report. Guys are feeling OK, feeling better.”
Cora noted again that Kiké Hernandez, who was the first player to test positive last Friday, is continuing to feel better as he continues to quarantine in Cleveland. The manager had said on Wednesday that it was possible Hernandez could return this weekend during their series against the Indians.
“He feels like he’s close to 100%,” Cora said of Hernandez. “We’ll see what happens in the upcoming days, but Christian (Arroyo) is feeling better, too. He was able to actually rest. The guys here (in Tampa Bay), they’re all OK. They’re OK. So, now we’ve just got to be patient.”
Rookies shining
Garrett Whitlock is continuing to draw lofty praise for his sensational rookie season. The relief pitcher who the Red Sox plucked from the Yankees in last year’s Rule 5 draft pitched two shutout innings in Wednesday’s 3-2 win over the Rays, his major leagueleading 23rd scoreless appearance of the season. It earned an endorsement from Chris Sale, who said Whitlock is a “lock” to win American League Rookie of the Year.
A year removed from Tommy John surgery, Whitlock is now the most trusted arm in the Red Sox’ bullpen in his first big-league season.
“He’s great,” Cora said. “He cares about winning. We took care of him early but now it’s a full go with him, obviously. Going multiple innings, you have to be smart about it but I think he’s just him. He’s never taken anything for granted. … It’s all him and Instagram, too. You’ve got to thank Instagram, because if we don’t see that bullpen that he threw, I think it was in January, we had no idea if he was healthy.
“Everybody put work on this from the scouting department to the front office and now the coaches here. It’s awesome. He’s not a Rule 5 guy, he’s a big leaguer. I’m glad that people are talking about him, people are recognizing him and he’s making a huge impact for us.”
Whitlock isn’t the only rookie making an impact right now. Bobby Dalbec on Thursday was named the American League Rookie of the Month for his scorching August, when he posted a slash line of .339/.431/.774 with seven home runs and 21 RBI in 24 games.
Devers, Dalbec at short?
With the middle of the Red Sox’ infield ravaged by the COVID-19 outbreak, there could be a different look at shortstop soon. With Xander Bogaerts out for at least the next week, Cora said Dalbec and Rafael Devers could play there at some point if a game situation called for it.
“We have to be openminded,” Cora said. “With Raffy and Bobby, just one of those where if we hit for one of the kids, who’s going to play up the middle? We talk about Raffy, he plays there in the shift. When Bobby plays third base, he plays there in the shift, so I told him to get some ground balls at short. Actually, he was pretty good. He was actually good at short. The way he moves, it’s very similar to the way he moves at third base. I like what I saw.
“Something that we’re just thinking ahead with the game, how we’re going to manage it. If we have to hit for Jonathan (Arauz ) or we have to hit for Jacky (Lopez), it’s one of those that someone has to play short.”
For now, the Red Sox are rolling with Lopez at second and Arauz at shortstop. The 28-year-old Lopez is finally getting his shot after playing in the minors since being drafted by the Royals in 2011. He made his second consecutive start Thursday, a night after he impressed defensively in his debut, contributing to three double plays.
Cora has a good relationship with Lopez, whose father he knows, and is happy to see him with the Red Sox.
“He comes from a baseball family,” Cora said. “He’s played back home for a while and he’s played for the team I was GM a few times. He played for (Vazquez) a few years. We know him, we know he’s kind of like a little kid, a little brother for us. I know what he can do on the field. I know he can slow it down. He’s a good player. I’m glad that, obviously the situation is not perfect, but he’s got an opportunity to be a big leaguer and (Wednesday) he made some good plays out there. That’s what we’re looking for, for him to catch the ball and give us a chance defensively so our offense can come back and do what we can do.”