The Purple Sox positioned infielder David Hamilton on the 10-day injured checklist yesterday on account of a left index finger fracture, which he suffered on a bunt single the day earlier than. He advised reporters that the timetable could be 4 to 6 weeks however that he’s hoping to get that down to 2 to a few weeks, which might be based mostly on his ache tolerance. Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic was amongst those that relayed the information on X.
The Sox have had a rotating forged of characters protecting second base this 12 months. That they had deliberate on giving the gig to Vaughn Grissom after buying him from Atlanta for Chris Sale within the winter. However Grissom has been injured or struggling for many of the 12 months, which opened the spot for others. Other than Grissom, ten completely different gamers have seen not less than a little bit of motion on the keystone for Boston this 12 months.
Nobody actually took maintain of the job however Hamilton arguably carried out one of the best of the group. His .248/.303/.395 batting line this 12 months solely interprets to a 91 wRC+, indicating he’s been 9% beneath common, however he’s stolen 33 bases in 37 tries and has performed each center infield positions. His work at shortstop hasn’t been graded properly however he has 9 Defensive Runs Saved and three Outs Above Common at second. General, FanGraphs considers him to have been price 1.6 wins above alternative on the 12 months.
He might not get an opportunity to change these numbers within the wake of his harm. The four-to-six-week timeline would basically wipe out his common season at this level. Even when he has an opportunity to return again faster, that will most likely require the Sox to remain within the race. They’re presently 3.5 video games again of a playoff spot. In the event that they fall again within the coming weeks, there wouldn’t be a lot level in speeding Hamilton again earlier than he’s 100% wholesome.
For now, the Sox will probably hold the carousel of gamers going by means of the keystone, with Nick Sogard, Romy González and Mickey Gasper among the choices on the roster. Maybe they are going to recall Grissom sooner or later, although he’s presently getting common enjoying time at Triple-A Worcester.
One other X-factor within the membership’s center infield plans will likely be Trevor Story, who’s making an attempt to return to the membership earlier than the season is finished. He has been making an attempt to return again from April shoulder surgical procedure that was initially considered season-ending and tells Rob Bradford of WEEI (X hyperlink) {that a} rehab task will likely be his subsequent step, although he didn’t present a selected date for beginning that rehab.
Even when Story does return to the Sox this 12 months, it’s anybody’s guess what kind he will likely be in. The Sox signed him to a six-year, $140MM deal going into 2022 however haven’t acquired a lot on that funding but. He has missed vital time on account of varied illnesses, together with this 12 months’s shoulder surgical procedure and final 12 months’s elbow surgical procedure. He has solely appeared in 145 video games for the Sox since signing that deal and has hit simply .227/.288/.394 in his 598 plate appearances.
It’s truthful to conclude that the dearth of well being has performed a giant position in tamping down his manufacturing, however that additionally means there may nonetheless be some rust if he returns to the membership within the subsequent few weeks. Nonetheless, it could possibly be good for the long run if he will get some enjoying time below his toes earlier than the winter. He’s nonetheless a giant a part of the membership’s future, with three years remaining on that deal. Ceddanne Rafaela has been enjoying shortstop of late however he’s not hitting a lot and nonetheless has choices. He could possibly be despatched all the way down to the minors or maybe be bumped right into a utility position since he’s additionally a succesful outfielder.
Turning to the pitching employees, right-hander Liam Hendriks could possibly be again within the majors quickly. The righty underwent Tommy John surgical procedure final 12 months however has began a rehab task and made 4 appearances within the minors this month. He tells Alex Speier of The Boston Globe that he’s focusing on a return subsequent weekend.
Now 35, Hendriks has been on fairly a tumultuous journey lately. He missed the beginning of the 2023 season whereas coping with a analysis of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. After beating most cancers, he returned to the mound with the White Sox however solely made 5 appearances earlier than requiring the aforementioned surgical procedure. The Sox signed him within the offseason to a two-year take care of a $10MM assure and one other $10MM in incentives, figuring out that they most likely wouldn’t get a lot out of the righty within the first season.
That was a logical step for the Sox as Hendriks was dominant previous to this odyssey. From 2019 to 2022, he made 226 appearances with a 2.26 earned run common, 38.8% strikeout fee and 5.1% stroll fee. On prime of that, each Kenley Jansen and Chris Martin are set to hit free company after 2024, so signing Hendriks within the winter was a preemptive transfer to deal with the 2025 bullpen forward of schedule.
It’s additionally doable that Martin could possibly be again. He tells the Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast (X hyperlink) that he’s planning on pitching once more subsequent 12 months, in what could be his age-39 season, so long as he feels good by means of the tip of the present marketing campaign. He additionally spoke positively of the Purple Sox group and appeared open to a return.
Martin and the Sox signed a two-year, $17.5MM deal heading into 2023. He has thrown 86 2/3 innings over the course of that take care of a 1.77 ERA, 25.1% strikeout fee, 48.1% floor ball fee and tiny 2.9% stroll fee. Given the continued sturdy outcomes, he figures to get sturdy curiosity from the Sox or every other membership across the league if he needs to maintain his profession going.
