Boston Red Sox: David Price and Hanley Ramirez Suffer Injuries

Boston Red Sox lefty David Price was the subject of serious injury concern on Thursday and slugger Hanley Ramirez appears to be a precautionary removal from the World Baseball Classic.

Both David Price and Hanley Ramirez dealt with setbacks in their preparations for the 2017 Boston Red Sox season on Thursday. Price received an MRI after experiencing elbow discomfort and is scheduled for a second opinion. Ramirez pulled out of the World Baseball Classic, where he was set to represent his native Dominican Republic.

Price, who has averaged 227 innings a year over his nine year career, may finally be feeling the effects of his massive workload. According to Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe, Price will be travelling to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis to receive a second opinion from the dreaded elbow specialist Doctor James Andrews.

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Abraham suggests that Price may have tweaked something during a simulated game he pitched on Tuesday. A second opinion is a scary thought, but reporters who have spoken with Price have all stated that he seems confident that he will not need Tommy John surgery.

Surgery would be the worst case scenario for both Price and the Red Sox. Price would have to miss about one year to rehabilitate his elbow and the Red Sox would be on the hook for the $30 million due to him.

Price’s value would also take a hit, since he has an opt-out coming after 2018. Fewer teams will be interested in a 32-year-old pitcher coming off of a major surgery, especially after the disappointing start to his career in Boston.

Feb 27, 2017; Fort Myers, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Hanley Ramirez (13) works out before their spring training game against the St. Louis Cardinals at JetBlue Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Ramirez, by comparison, is simply undergoing some routine maintenance. He was scheduled to begin playing in World Baseball Classic games in Miami next Thursday, but he was taken off the roster due to soreness in his right shoulder.

Abraham reported that Ramirez seemed disappointed to not be going to Miami, but understood that it is more important to ensure that he is ready for the Red Sox season in April. The Red Sox, Ramirez, and the Dominican Team mutually agreed that it would be better for Ramirez to remain with his club. In a strange twist, Ramirez actually played in today’s 19-2 Spring Training victory against the Tampa Bay Rays.

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He went 2 for 3 with a home run and five runs batted in before being replaced, so skipping the Classic may end up being entirely precautionary.

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