How the Veterans Injury Issues affect the Boston Red Sox Moving Forward to Axed out from the Roster
Utility player Rob Refsnyder fractured his toe on Tuesday and is set to open the season on the injured list for the Boston Red Sox.
The outfielder, who specializes in hitting left-handed pitching, could miss anywhere from 4-to-6 weeks it looks like (although not confirmed by the team). His absence will open the door for multiple other players to potentially make the roster.
The 34-year-old Cron was signed to a minor league deal this offseason after hitting .248 last year with 12 homers and 37 RBI. He’s a 10-year veteran who has played with the Los Angeles Angels, Tampa Bay Rays, Minnesota Twins and Colorado Rockies. Lifetime, he’s a .260 hitter who hit 30 homers back in 2018.
The 28-year-old Dalbec has spent parts of four years in Boston, playing in a career-high 133 games back in 2021. He’s a .231 hitter lifetime, but he did hit 25 homers back in that 2021 season.
Gonzalez is a utility player who can play all over the field.
The Red Sox are projected to finish last in the American League East this season. They open up the year on March 28 on the road at the Seattle Mariners.
“We’ve got a few righties that can hit lefties. Let’s see how C.J. (Cron) moves the next few weeks. Obviously, Bobby (Dalbec), Pablo (Reyes)…(Jamie) Westbook is a good player, he can play the outfield. Romy (Gonzalez), he’s very versatile. Let’s see where it takes us. But it’s a tough one.”
Refsnyder entered the game in place of Tyler O’Neill and remained in the game for an inning after being hit. After manager Alex Cora noticed his limited movement, Refsnyder was pulled. Scans have revealed a crack in his pinkie toe, and it is yet unclear what his recovery timeline will be.
Even in Refsnyder’s absence, Boston’s outfield is crowded. But there are two prospects gunning for a roster spot, and now there’s another place open.
Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu have been battling all spring for the final slot in the Red Sox’s pastures. Now, the club may not have to choose between them for Opening Day.
Tyler O’Neill, Jarren Duran and Masataka Yoshida are Boston’s other outfield options, but manager Alex Cora already stated that the majority of Yoshida’s at-bats will come out of the designated hitter slot. With him as DH and Refsnyder out of commission, there’s room for one prospect in the starting lineup and one on the bench. And one of them is off to a clear lead for the starting job.
