Boston Red Sox slugger Hanley Ramirez went in for shoulder surgery Tuesday
Boston Red Sox designated hitter Hanley Ramirez is in the hospital to have shoulder surgery, and he says he’ll be ‘coming back stronger in ‘18.’
You know you’re in the offseason when someone is getting surgery. That’s the case for Boston Red Sox designated hitter Hanley Ramirez.
Hanley tweeted the news that he is having shoulder surgery on Tuesday on his Twitter account, with a hospital bed picture to go along with it.
The news isn’t surprising, and Ramirez is expected to recover fully to be ready for the start of the 2018 MLB season.
Hi my people, went in for left shoulder surgery today, keep me in prayers. Coming back stronger in ‘18, love you all #RedSoxNation @RedSox pic.twitter.com/axDr10BB5x
— Hanley Ramirez ⚾️ (@HanleyRamirez) October 17, 2017
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Hanley will again be the Boston Red Sox DH in 2018, but we’re all hoping he brings a little more power to the plate. In 2017, Ramirez hit just .242 with 23 home runs and 62 RBI. I’m sure the Red Sox would like to see him get somewhere around a .295/30 HR/90 RBI line next season. It’s tough for Ramirez as he’s essentially replacing David Ortiz as Boston’s power hitter, but we know he has the ability to do so. In 2016, with Ortiz, Hanley hit .286 with 30 long balls and 111 RBI. That’s what we want.
Ramirez’s role won’t be changing, but perhaps the managerial change will benefit him. It’s said that John Farrell often struggled to communicate with his players, and it looks like that issue is being addressed. Alex Cora is the favorite to become the next Red Sox manager, and at just 41-years old he will be a lot closer with the guys in the clubhouse. A native Puerto Rican, you know Cora would also have an instant connection with Boston’s Hispanic players like Ramirez.
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The Red Sox may also add another power bat to the lineup this offseason which would help Ramirez tremendously. He would be pitched to more often, rather than pitched around, and that should result in more home runs for the slugger. Only time will tell though how Boston and Dave Dombrowski choose to address the lineup and the clubhouse.