Red Sox injury notebook: Wilyer Abreu still sidelined, Devers has a target date to play, Bryan Mata with another issue, Bello BP session date set
Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu is still sidelined, dealing with a viral gastrointestinal illness.
The 25-year-old has not been able to ramp up any baseball activities with his teammates over the last week of spring training.
“He can work out. He cannot do baseball activities yet,” manager Alex Cora said to reporters on Tuesday at CoolToday Park. Abreu reportedly looks slimmer and had additional labs done on Monday.
“They are getting the results today. So we’re still waiting,” Cora said.
Abreu enters camp coming off winning a Gold Glove and receiving Rookie of the Year votes. The left-handed slugger has not swung a bat or participated in any team fielding drills.
With Opening Day roughly five weeks away, Abreu has time to get on track and be ready for the season. Boston is expecting the 25-year-old right fielder to build off his first big league campaign. Offensively, Abreu hit .253 with 15 homers, 58 RBI, and a .781 OPS in 132 games. He struggled to hit left-handed pitching, hitting just .180 with a .533 OPS.
Rafael Devers ‘shooting for’ next Wednesday
The Red Sox have taken it very slow with slugger Rafael Devers since the beginning of camp. Devers dealt with injuries to both his shoulders in 2024 and has a potential date on the calendar to make his spring debut.
Boston is going to have Devers hit in live batting practice on Wednesday with the goal for him to play his first spring training game next Wednesday (March 5).
“And they say he looks amazing,” Cora said. “I saw him on the field today. Just working on a few things. Trying to pull the ball. ... Last year, he struggled after Colorado to get to the pitch inside. He’s working on that, trying to get that feeling. So he looks good.”
Brayan Bello with date for first bullpen session
Brayan Bello has been dealing with right shoulder inflammation since the first week of camp and has been slowly ramping up to return to normal baseball activities.
The righty took a strength test on Feb. 23 and received good results. He is also now throwing from 120 feet, and the Red Sox are planning for him to throw his first bullpen session on Feb. 28.
Bryan Mata with issue early on in camp
Once a highly touted pitching prospect in the Red Sox system, right-handed pitcher Bryan Mata has had his eyes set on making his big league debut; instead, he’s struggled to stay healthy.
A hamstring strain limited the hard-throwing righty to just 22 2/3 innings between four levels of the Red Sox system last year. Mata is once again dealing with a hamstring issue at the start of camp.
