With Wilyer Abreu’s availability for Opening Day trying more and more unlikely, the Purple Sox are checking round for one more right-handed hitting depth outfielder, MassLive.com’s Sean McAdam reviews. Since Abreu’s restoration from a gastrointestinal virus hasn’t definitively dominated him out but, “it’s not a significant or essential want for now, however…the Purple Sox have let different groups know that they’re out there,” McAdam writes.
On paper, Boston would seem to have loads of outfield assist already readily available, between Masataka Yoshida, utilityman Rob Refsnyder, and non-roster invite Trayce Thompson (the latter two of whom are right-handed hitters). Nevertheless, McAdam notes that the Sox is likely to be searching for so-called Quad-A gamers “like Thompson, who’ve some huge league expertise and may also help fill roster gaps when accidents strike.” This may put Boston out there for veterans on minor league offers, or gamers which may come accessible later in Spring Coaching as soon as golf equipment begin making extra in depth cuts from their checklist of non-roster invitations.
The Sox even have star prospects Roman Anthony and Kristian Campbell on the verge of their MLB debuts, although neither participant is strictly a match for this specific want. Presumably as soon as Anthony or Campbell are referred to as up, the Purple Sox need them to stay within the majors for good, and the group most likely doesn’t need to begin their service clocks for what is likely to be a short-term fill-in function. As McAdam observes, Campbell has been figuring out as an outfielder however has solely a few appearances for granted fielder on the professional degree, and Anthony has additionally been hampered by one other virus going across the Sox clubhouse. Supervisor Alex Cora informed reporters (together with The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey) that Anthony misplaced about 10-12 kilos as a result of sickness, although Anthony may resume recreation motion as early as Tuesday.
Yoshida has additionally been restricted to DH responsibility to this point in camp, as he continues to get better from offseason shoulder surgical procedure. All of those components may effectively open the door for Thompson to win a job on the Opening Day roster, lower than a month after he signed his minor league contract with the Sox. Thompson has been making a robust case for himself with an enormous 1.636 OPS over 28 Grapefruit League plate appearances.
