The Boston Red Sox will have an opportunity to reach the .500 mark for the first time in nearly a week when they meet the Tampa Bay Rays for Wednesday's series finale. After being blown out 16-1 in the opener, the Red Sox evened the series with Tuesday's hard-fought 7-4 win, made possible by star third baseman Alex Bregman's two-home run, four-RBI performance.
As great as Bregman's latest outing was, Red Sox fans must wait a little longer for an encore performance. MLB.com's Ian Browne revealed after the game that Bregman is traveling "back to Boston for the birth of his second child," missing Wednesday's finale as a result.
Bregman's bat will be missed, however, family always comes first — even in sports. It also didn't take long to reveal who'll replace the two-time All-Star 3B in the lineup during his brief absence.
Red Sox Promote Nick Sogard as Alex Bregman Joins Paternity List
According to MassLive's Chris Cotillo's sources, the Red Sox are calling up Nick Sogard to replace Bregman on Wednesday. The versatile infielder was acquired from the Rays back in February 2021 and has since opened the 2025 campaign with Triple-A Worcester.
Nick Sogard will be called up tomorrow to replace Alex Bregman (paternity list) per multiple sources.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) April 16, 2025
It'll be interesting to see how Sogard, 27, handles his MLB promotion. The Los Angeles native hasn't found much luck at the plate this season, slashing .159/.275/205 with four RBIs, two doubles, and a pair of stolen bases in 12 games (44 at-bats) with Worcester.
Having said that, the fact that Sogard spent 55 1/3 innings playing third base for the Red Sox last season makes him a logical fill-in for Bregman at the hot corner. He recorded a flawless fielding percentage during that stretch while recording 15 assists and five putouts, as well as three double plays turned.
Sogard also had a decent amount of offensive success in Alex Cora's lineup. The Red Sox infielder tallied eight RBIs, seven walks, and three stolen bases while batting .273 across 77 ABs, leaving time to tell if he can pick up from where he left off.
It's shaping up to be an uphill battle for Boston in the series finale, meaning the club needs Sogard to make an immediate impact in Bregman's absence. The Red Sox are currently +118 moneyline underdogs to the Rays on FanDuel Sportsbook, just over nine hours away from Wednesday night's first pitch.
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