Red Sox infielder leaves Saturday’s game with a contusion
Additional WooSox rehab notes are also included inside.
Another day, another Red Sox injury.
Second baseman Enmanuel Valdez left the Red Sox’ 7-2 win over the Angels on Saturday afternoon with a left thumb contusion.
Valdez was running the bases in the bottom of the sixth inning when he dove into second base. In the process, Angels' Miguel Sanó landed on Valdez’s arm during a mini-rundown between first and second base on a pick-off attempt.
The infielder attempted to field his position in the top of the seventh inning, but Alex Cora elected to remove Valdez from the game, and he was replaced by Pablo Reyes.
“He should be OK,” Cora said postgame. “He’s not starting tomorrow. So I think he’ll benefit from that. We’ll check on him tomorrow morning, but he should be OK.”
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The Red Sox can’t afford to have any other infielders going down with injuries after losing Trevor Story for the season. Rafael Devers is dealing with a sore left shoulder, and Romy Gonzalez was placed on the injured list Saturday with a wrist sprain.
Valdez has struggled offensively to open the year; he has gone 5-for-39 (.128) with a homer, double, six RBIs, six runs, three walks, and 13 strikeouts in 13 games so far this season. He has started 12 of Boston’s 15 games at second base. As players get healthier, if Valdez continues to struggle at the plate, he could be a candidate to get optioned to Triple-A Worcester.
WooSox rehab updates
Vaughn Grissom began his rehab assignment with the WooSox on Friday night. He was penciled in as the designated hitter and batter out of the No. 2 hole.
The infielder went 0-for-3 in the game and left two runners in scoring position.
Grissom has been on the injured list since March 25 after he suffered a left hamstring strain during the spring. The Red Sox will send him on a 20-day injury rehab assignment, which is the maximum allowed due to not playing in any spring training games.
Rob Refsynder played in his second rehab game for Worcester after going 0-for-3 with three strikeouts on Wednesday night. He did not play on Thursday, he was given the day off.
The WooSox had Refsnyder start in right field, and he went 2-for-3 in the game, including a double in the first inning.
While with the WooSox, Refsnyder will get some work at first base. Refsnyder has played 36 games at first base in the majors, and he played four games for the Rangers at first base during the 2020 season. In the minors, he’s played 11 games at first base. Go
WooSox catcher Tyler Heineman was placed on the temporary inactive list on Saturday. This is essentially an in-season excused leave of absence, which is generally used for paternity leave, bereavement leave, and Family Medical Emergency Leave. His reason for being placed on this list is currently unknown.
