Kiké Hernandez is again.
After going by his pregame work in Pittsburgh – seemingly to make sure he was totally wholesome earlier than his activation – Hernandez was within the Red Sox’ lineup for the primary time in additional than two months as Boston opened a three-game sequence with the Pirates.
Hernandez’s return after he missed 60 video games was a very long time coming. He initially hit the injured listing on June 8 with a proper hip flexor pressure, however he finally missed rather more time than anticipated after struggling a setback in early July, when he was pulled off his rehab task. Upon his return Tuesday, Hernandez revealed to reporters in Pittsburgh a number of the grotesque particulars of what stored him out longer. An MRI confirmed that Hernandez had a pressure in his psoas muscle which included what he described as a “bowl of blood the size of a baseball” sitting there that he wanted to be drained.
That revelation made sense to Hernandez, whose swing didn’t appear proper to him however he didn’t know why.
“In my mind, I was like, my swing is broken, my mechanics are broken, I can’t fix them, I can’t really load into my back side,” Hernandez informed reporters, by way of NESN’s pregame present. “A pair months later, we realized that I had a bowl of blood sitting within the muscle that wasn’t permitting me to make use of the fitting facet of my core and legs the fitting method, and type of like that snowball impact of not realizing it on time. I most likely missed much more time than I ought to have. …
“It was one of the most traumatizing experiences I’ve ever been through, but considering that injury, it was kind of like instant relief as soon as they drained it.”
The Red Sox are lastly getting wholesome, and Hernandez’s return is among the many greatest as they chase a playoff spot – they entered Tuesday 5 video games again of the ultimate Wild Card spot – over the ultimate seven weeks of the season. Though he had only a .613 OPS in his first 51 video games, a wholesome and rejuvenated Hernandez – as he confirmed final October – provides one other stable at-bat to the lineup, and he considerably upgrades Boston’s outfield protection. Without Hernandez, they’ve been pressured to play a struggling Jarren Duran because the on a regular basis centerfielder.
Hernandez additionally returned Tuesday with fellow outfielder Rob Refsnyder, who’s been spectacular offensively and defensively this season. Two days after getting Michael Wacha again, the Red Sox proceed to get much-needed reinforcements at a great time.
“It’s good to have him,” Red Sox supervisor Alex Cora informed reporters about Hernandez’s return. “I’m glad we shut him down and we obtained all the knowledge doable. I do know it’s August sixteenth, however we obtained him for a month-and-a-half-plus hopefully. He’s going to make a distinction. You can see his swings now, he’s comfy along with his physique. …
“We’ll see how it goes. We’ll maximize his talent, we’ll take care of him, too, and I think having — especially Christian (Arroyo), Ref and Kiké, I think it’s going to help us to be really good on a nightly basis and take care of some guys, too.”
Hernandez, who was Boston’s leadoff hitter for many of final season and to begin this 12 months, batted seventh on Tuesday. Cora mentioned over the weekend that Tommy Pham will seemingly proceed because the Red Sox’ leadoff hitter.
Bogaerts misses a recreation
Xander Bogaerts was out of Boston’s lineup on Tuesday after fouling a ball off his shin through the Yankees sequence over the weekend, but it surely’s not anticipated to maintain him out lengthy.
“He fouled off a ball the other day and kind of like has been grinding, let’s put it that way,” Cora informed reporters. “We’ll give him today, we’ll see how he feels tomorrow.”
Without Bogaerts, Hernandez began at shortstop in his return.
Odds & ends
The Red Sox could also be lacking Tanner Houck longer than anticipated. The Red Sox’ nearer, who’s on the injured listing with low again irritation, has a disc challenge in his again, Cora informed reporters in Pittsburgh, together with the Globe. Houck will spend this week in Boston getting remedy and be reevaluated subsequent Monday to find out his standing for the remainder of the season. Houck, who was positioned on the IL final week, noticed a backbone specialist on Monday. …
To make room for Hernandez and Refsnyder, the Red Sox optioned Jaylin Davis to Triple-A Worcester on Monday and designated infielder Yolmer Sanchez for task on Tuesday. …
This week’s three-game set in Pittsburgh marks the Red Sox’ first journey to PNC Park since September 2014. It’s the primary time they’ve performed the Pirates since April 2017.
Source: www.bostonherald.com