Boston Red Sox news and notes: Injury bug claims two more
Steven Wright and Marco Hernandez joined the injury club, a list for the Boston Red Sox that seems to add members weekly.
The knuckleball will be silent for the rest of the 2017 season. At least in the case of Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Steven Wright.
It was announced on Thursday that Wright, one year removed from an all-star appearance, will have season-ending surgery on his knee.
While Wright wasn’t one of the stars in April for Boston, his ability to eat innings and keep hitters off-balance in a series will be missed.
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Coming off a 13-6 season, there were hopes for Wright to have a repeat performance. Put him behind Chris Sale, David Price, and 2016 Cy Young winner Rick Porcello, there would be little pressure for him to try and carry the staff.
Instead, partially thanks to a small knee injury in spring training that wouldn’t go away, Wright struggled to 1-3 start while posting a 8.25 ERA.
Now, he will look forward to 2018 as he joins Price on the shelf.
Price, meanwhile, continues to build towards a return. While no timetable has been set, he threw a simulated game the other day, hitting the radar at 95 mph.
His return would mean–fingers crossed for no more injuries–a rotation featuring four left-handers and Porcello.
In the meantime, it will most likely fall on the shoulders of Kyle Kendrick to fill-in for Wright. Kendrick’s first start of the season didn’t go exactly as planned.
The righty gave up eight hits and six runs over four innings of work.
Kendrick had pitched up and down at Triple-A Pawtucket. He was 1-3 with an ERA of six, but recently had thrown a complete game.
If Kendrick isn’t the short-term answer, the Red Sox can turn to either Henry Owens or Brian Johnson.
Owens has been impressive again for the minor league affiliate. He is 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA while striking out 32. Command issues can still be a problem with him, as he has walked 18.
Johnson has a 2.28 ERA in 23 innings pitched.
Third base woes
One month into the 2017 season and the hot corner appears to be cursed for the Boston Red Sox.
Marco Hernandez became the latest victim, falling prey to a left shoulder injury that landed him on the 10-day DL.
Hernandez joins the previously injured Pablo Sandoval and Brock Holt in the not-so-exclusive third baseman’s club.
Mostly a utility player forced into an everyday role, Hernandez was hitting a respectable .276 before the injury.
Defense at this position has also been problem, with Hernandez and Sandoval posting a total of ten errors. Neither of them has a a fielding percentage above .900 on the season.
Josh Rutledge, proud new owner of the hot corner, hasn’t fared much better. Rutledge has committed two errors and owns a .778 fielding percentage.
Help at the Triple-A level isn’t exactly screaming “sign me up”. At least five players have played third for Pawtucket this season, including Rutledge. The best of the bunch has been 27-year old Jantzen Witte, who has 17 hits in 18 games.
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The future is currently tearing it up at Double-A Portland. Rafael Devers is the top prospect in the Boston organization, but doesn’t appear to be on the fast track to his parent club anytime soon.
Hopefully Sandoval and at the very least Holt can return soon. If not, Devers might be getting the call a lot sooner than we think.