Injuries & Moves: Devers OK after injury scare
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July 23: 3B Rafael Devers confident he is OK after injury scare
When Devers rolled over his right shoulder while trying to make a diving stop on a single by Ezequiel Tovar in the bottom of the sixth inning of Tuesday's 6-0 win over the Rockies, it was easy for the Red Sox to flash back to April 5 in Anaheim, when Trevor Story fractured his left shoulder diving in the hole. But after a few minutes on the ground in obvious discomfort, Devers shook it off and stayed in the game, allowing the Red Sox a collective sigh of relief.
"We've been through this path before but [fortunately] he's OK," said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. "He said he just jammed it. He took some vicious hacks in the last at-bat. He said he’ll be ready for [Wednesday].”
July 23: RHP Chris Martin could start throwing program by weekend
Martin, Boston's veteran setup man who has been out since July 4 with right elbow inflammation, could resume throwing by this weekend, according to Red Sox manager Alex Cora. The righty had a setback just prior to the All-Star break when he felt discomfort while playing catch. Given the recent woes of Boston's bullpen, the news that Martin is making progress is significant.
July 21: RHP Kenley Jansen skips Denver trip due to past heart issues
Already short on right-handers in the bullpen because Chris Martin and Justin Slaten are on the injured list at the same time with elbow woes, the Sox will be without closer Jansen for the three-game series in Denver against the Rockies that starts on Monday. The reason is that Jansen has dealt with atrial fibrillation, a heart condition, throughout his career, and the high altitude in Denver has caused him issues in the past.
The Red Sox won't be able to replace Jansen on the roster, so they'll be a man short. Jansen's upcoming absence is the reason he pitched the eighth inning on Sunday, a day after he threw 25 pitches in his second blown save of the season. Red Sox manager Alex Cora said the club, in conjunction with Jansen, decided he wouldn't be making the trip before the season even started.
"Too many times, stuff happened over there with me [in Colorado]," Jansen said. "[In] 2022 [with the Braves] was the last time I went there, and when I went back to Atlanta, I started having issues and then after a couple of weeks, I went back to afib. I’m just trying to avoid that right now and try to get to the postseason, and I don’t think that’s a great time to go there and mess things up, and next thing you know, it’s going to hurt the team more. I would rather skip that one and be ready for the Yankees series [next weekend]."
10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
RHP Justin Slaten (right elbow inflammation)
Expected return: August
A key setup man for the Red Sox, Slaten played catch on back-to-back days earlier this week but only received treatment on July 23 because he was feeling ill. Slaten was placed on the IL on July 12, and the move was made retroactive to July 9. The Red Sox are pleased with the progress he is making. (Last updated: July 23)
RHP Chris Martin (right elbow inflammation)
Expected return: August or September
Martin went to his home in Texas over the All-Star break but is headed back to Boston to try to ramp up his rehab. Manager Alex Cora said on July 23 that Martin could resume throwing within a few days. Martin suffered a slight setback shortly before the break when he said he didn't "feel great" playing catch. So the Red Sox are hoping a conservative approach will be beneficial. (Last updated: July 23)
2B Vaughn Grissom (right hamstring strain)
Expected return: August
Grissom continued his Minor rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester on July 23, going 0-for-4 as the DH. Grissom will play second base on July 24. He got off to a solid start with Worcester on July 20, drawing two walks and stealing a base while serving as the DH. The next day, he started at second base and belted an RBI double. Given how little Grissom has played this season due to a variety of leg injuries, his rehab assignment could be close to the maximum 20 days allowed. (Last updated: July 23)
RHP Bryan Mata (right elbow inflammation)
Expected return: TBD
Injuries continue to pile up for Mata, who once again was returned from his Minor League rehab assignment, this time due to right elbow inflammation. Mata had to exit his start for Triple-A Worcester after one inning on July 14. Mata, Boston's No. 27 prospect per MLB Pipeline, is out of Minor League options. Once he is healthy, the Red Sox will have to activate him or designate him for assignment. (Last updated: July 19)
60-DAY INJURED LIST
1B Triston Casas (torn cartilage in left rib cage)
Expected return: August or September
As of July 22, Casas was at close to 100 percent intensity swinging against soft toss. Trainer Brandon Henry feels he is starting to turn a corner. The key will be once Casas is cleared to take regular batting practice. At that point, the Red Sox will have a better idea of how close he is to a Minor League rehab assignment. (Last updated: July 22)
RHP Liam Hendriks (right UCL surgery)
Expected return: August or September
Hendriks continues to throw bullpen sessions, but he is throwing exclusively fastballs at this point. As of July 19, he wasn't considered to be close to being ready for a Minor League rehab assignment. (Last updated: July 19)
SS Trevor Story (dislocated left shoulder)
Expected return: Slight possibility of 2024; probably '25
It was initially assumed that Story wouldn't play again until '25 after he underwent surgery on April 12. Perhaps that will still be the case, but Story said on July 19 that his rehab is going well and he's keeping open the possibility of playing again in '24, particularly if the Red Sox make the playoffs. Story underwent a successful arthroscopic repair of the posterior labrum, with an open reduction and internal fixation of the fracture of the glenoid rim. The procedure was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache.
Story dislocated his shoulder diving for a ball on April 5 in Anaheim. He was transferred from the 10-day IL to the 60-day IL on April 19. (Last updated: July 19)
RHP Garrett Whitlock (damaged UCL in right elbow)
Expected return: 2025
Whitlock will not pitch again until some point in 2025 after he had his UCL repaired by Dr. Jeffrey Dugas in Birmingham, Ala., on May 30. On the bright side, the righty avoided Tommy John surgery and instead underwent an internal brace repair, a procedure that has become more frequent for pitchers with UCL injuries.
Whitlock had a 1-0 record and 1.96 ERA in four starts for the Red Sox this season. He was transferred to the 60-day IL on June 2. (Last updated: June 2)
LHP Chris Murphy (left UCL)
Expected Return: 2025
Murphy, who came up as a starter before being converted into a multi-inning reliever last season, underwent successful reconstruction of the left ulnar collateral ligament (elbow). Dr. Keith Meister performed the surgery at Texas Metroplex Institute for Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Surgery in Arlington. (Last updated: April 10)
RHP Lucas Giolito (right UCL surgery)
Expected Return: 2025
Giolito was moved to the 60-day injured list on March 24. He underwent surgery to repair his right elbow ulnar collateral ligament on March 12 after two Grapefruit League starts (4 1/3 innings). (Last updated: March 24)