Red Sox vs. Rays: Wilyer Abreu returns to lineup following hamstring injury, Chaim Bloom quote, lineup
The Red Sox have been bitten by the hamstring injury bug in camp to begin the spring. One of the players who went down with a hamstring injury was outfielder Wilyer Abreu.
The 23-year-old was injured back on March 5 while running down a ball that was ripped up the first base line. Abreu began to immediately limp and was subsequently removed from the game.
The Venezuelan native was having a good spring at the plate prior to his injury, hitting .333 with one homer and four RBIs in 12 at-bats. His only home run was a grand slam he hit versus the Phillies earlier in Grapefruit League action.
Abreu returns to the Red Sox lineup on Saturday against the Rays from Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. He will bat fourth in the lineup behind Enmanuel Valdez.
Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom told Beyond the Monster on the Obstructed View Red Sox Podcast that Abreu was close to returning to game action.
“Abreu is back playing now, we saw him play at big league camp. Abreu, this guy… has power, really knows the strike zone. For a strong guy, he can move better out there then you think, runs pretty well, a guy who we think is going to be able to play all three outfield positions,” said Bloom.
Red Sox lineup versus the Rays on Saturday:
The Red Sox will start Corey Kluber in his final spring appearance before taking the ball on Opening Day on March 30. Boston is also expected to pitch Zack Kelly in addition to others.
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