Red Sox Face Shocking 1B Crisis as Rafael Devers Drama Deepens—Can They Find a Savior in Time?
Man, if you thought the Boston Red Sox’s troubles at first base couldn’t get any stickier, think again. Losing Triston Casas to a ruptured patellar tendon has been a gut punch, and just when it seemed they might find some footing with Romy González stepping in, bam — another roster shakeup hits. González suffered a quad contusion in a collision with the Rangers and now finds himself on the 10-day injured list. To plug that hole, Boston’s calling up Nick Sogard from Triple-A Worcester, hoping he’ll steady the ship against the Royals.
All this unfolds against the backdrop of a tense standoff with Rafael Devers, whose reluctance to slide over to first base only adds fuel to an already blazing fire of uncertainty. It’s a lot to chew on because while González has been hitting solidly — .308 with some nice speed and pop — Abraham Toro’s struggles and Sogard’s mixed minor-league numbers don’t exactly inspire confidence. Still, the Sox have to shuffle and hustle, making moves to patch the right side of their diamond. Will they find a solution internally? Or will fans see the front office swing for a deeper fix? Time will tell, but for now, the Red Sox’s first base saga is as complicated as ever — and nowhere near over.
Amid the season-ending injury to first baseman Triston Casas and negotiating a minefield with designated hitter Rafael Devers about possibly playing that position, the Boston Red Sox are making moves to make sure someone can play the right side of the diamond.
Romy González had been one of the players filling in at first base after Casas’ injury, along with Abraham Toro. But Boston had to place him on the 10-day injured list on Saturday with a left quad contusion. To take González’s spot on the active roster, Nick Sogard was called up from Triple-A Worcester and he’s starting Saturday’s game versus the Kansas City Royals at first base.
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González suffered the injury during on Wednesday over the Texas Rangers when he collided with Texas Rangers first baseman Josh Smith after trying to beat out a throw from third base.
González appeared to be all right, tried to jog off the injury and was able to leave the field without help. But Toro replaced him at first base in the seventh inning.
Though González and manager Alex Cora thought he would be able to avoid the IL, Toro started at first base for the Red Sox in the past two games. Following Friday’s 2-1 loss to the Royals, Cora said González “didn’t bounce back the way we expected,” necessitating the roster move.
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In 17 games this season (starting 10 of them at first base), González is batting .308/.362/.423 with six doubles, six RBI and three stolen bases. Toro has a .143 average with a .286 OPS in five games, which is likely why the Red Sox added some infield help.
Sogard doesn’t appear to be a vast improvement, hitting .188/.314/.248 with six doubles, 10 RBI and six steals in Triple-A. But he batted .273 with a .650 OPS in 31 games with Boston last season. González also should return after his IL stint, which is retroactive to May 8.
That is, unless the Red Sox make a move to bring in another first baseman or somehow convince Devers to get over his refusal to play a new position.
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