Tag: roster moves

Red Sox promote prospects Nathan Hickey, Chase Meidroth to Double-A Portland

The Red Sox have promoted catching prospect Nathan Hickey and infield prospect Chase Meidroth from High-A Greenville to Double-A Portland, per the club’s minor-league transactions log.

Hickey, 23, is currently regarded by Baseball America as the No. 15 prospect in Boston’s farm system, which ranks first among catchers in the organization. The Red Sox originally selected the Florida product in the fifth round of the 2021 amateur draft and signed him for exactly $1 million.

After closing out his first full professional season with the Drive, Hickey returned to Greenville for the start of the 2023 campaign. Leading up to Monday’s promotion, the left-handed hitter was batting a stout .294/.402/.588 with six doubles, one triple, four home runs, nine RBIs, 13 runs scored, 12 walks, and 20 strikeouts in his first 18 games (82 plate appearances) of the year.

For as impressive as those numbers may be, Hickey has been struggling on the other side of the ball. Defensively, the 5-foot-11, 210-pound backstop logged 146 innings behind the plate for Greenville. He allowed three passed balls and was 0-for-37 when it came to throwing out base stealers, though that might not have been all on him.

To that end, as noted by SoxProspects.com’s Chris Hatfield, Hickey could benefit from this promotion since Sea Dogs manager Chad Epperson previously served as Boston’s catching coordinator for 12 season. With Elih Marrero on the injured list and Matt Donlan on the development list, Hickey will form a catching tandem in Portland with fellow SEC product Stephen Scott for the time being.

Meidroth, meanwhile, is ranked by Baseball America as the No. 27 prospect in the Red Sox’ farm system. The 21-year-old was taken by Boston in the fourth round of last summer’s draft out of San Diego. He signed with the club for $272,500.

After showing signs of promise between the Florida Complex League and Low-A Salem in his pro debut, Meidroth broke camp with Greenville this spring. In 20 games with the Drive, the stocky right-handed hitter batted .338/.495/.459 with three doubles, two home runs, 14 RBIs, 19 runs scored, four stolen bases, 21 walks, and 20 strikeouts across 97 trips to the plate.

Defensively, Meidroth has seen the majority of his playing time come at either second or third base. While in Greenville, the 5-foot-9, 170 pounder logged 92 innings at second and 73 innings at third and committed a total of two errors in 51 chances.

Meidroth, who turns 22 in July, is now slated to join a Sea Dogs infield mix that includes Alex Binelas, Niko Kavadas, Christian Koss, Matthew Lugo, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Nick Yorke. It should be interesting to see how he adjusts to more advanced competition at the Double-A level.

Other moves:

In addition to promoting Hickey and Meidroth to Portland, the Red Sox made several other minor-league roster moves. Infielder Edwin Diaz was promoted from Portland to Triple-A Worcester and catcher Ronaldo Rosario was promoted from Salem to Greenville.

Furthermore, catcher Enderso Lira was added to Salem’s roster from extended spring training while right-hander Ryan Zeferjahn was activated from Portland’s injured list. Like Donlan, left-hander Sylar Arias was transferred to the Sea Dogs’ development list.

(Picture of Nathan Hickey: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox place Christian Arroyo on 10-day injured list with right hamstring strain, recall Bobby Dalbec from Triple-A Worcester

The Red Sox placed infielder Christian Arroyo on the 10-day injured list due to a right hamstring strain, the club announced prior to Sunday’s series finale against the Phillies. In a corresponding move, fellow infielder Bobby Dalbec was recalled from Triple-A Worcester.

Arroyo had been playing through a lingering hamstring issue that first popped up in mid-April. Though the 27-year-old was able to tolerate the pain, the Red Sox ultimately decided to shut him down for the time being.

“It was pretty sore,” Arroyo told The Boston Globe’s Pete Abraham at Citizens Bank Park. “Nothing abnormal, but it got to the point where I can’t keep doing this to the team. I tried everything I could.”

Arroyo opened the season as Boston’s primary second baseman and had gotten off to a slow start offensively. But the right-handed hitter was beginning to heat up and was batting .458/.500/.708 with one home run and eight RBIs in his last 11 games coming into play on Sunday, so the timing certainly is unfortunate.

“It just sucks,” said Arroyo. “But I think we made the best decision as a group. Hopefully a few days will make a difference and I can start up again.”

To that end, Arroyo is optimistic that he will only need to miss the minimum 10 days. That would line him up to return to action when the Red Sox wrap up a three-game series against the Mariners at Fenway Park on May 17.

Dalbec, meanwhile, is back with the Red Sox for the second time this season. The 27-year-old pinch-hit for Enmanuel Valdez in the eighth inning of Sunday afternoon’s 6-1 loss to the Phillies. He struck out on four pitches against lefty reliever Matt Strahm and played an inning of second base in Valdez’s place.

With Arroyo sidelined, the Red Sox do not have too many options on the active roster who can back up Enrique Hernandez at shortstop. Dalbec has started five games at short for Worcester and one game at short for Boston so far this season, so he could be an option there.

“We’ll see how we use Bobby,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said, per MassLive.com’s Christopher Smith. “I do believe he can make the routine play at second and short. Obviously the corners.”

As noted by Smith, the Red Sox could have called up middle infield prospect David Hamilton, who is already on the 40-man roster and has more experience at short than Dalbec. Unlike Dalbec, though, Hamilton hits from the left side of the plate and Boston already has seven left-handed hitters on its big-league roster.

“He’s lefty,” Cora said of Hamilton. “So where we’re at right now, this is our unit right now.”

(Picture of Christian Arroyo: Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Red Sox select Zack Littell to active roster, option Kaleb Ort to Triple-A Worcester

The Red Sox selected the contract of right-hander Zack Littell and have added him to the active roster, the club announced prior to Saturday’s game against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.

In order to make room for Littell on the 26-man roster, fellow reliever Kaleb Ort was optioned to Triple-A Worcester. In order to make room for him on the 40-man roster, outfielder Adam Duvall was transferred from the 10-day to the 60-day injured list.

Boston acquired Littell from the Rangers in exchange for cash considerations on Friday. The 27-year-old had a May 1 upward mobility clause in his minor-league deal with the Rangers, which required Texas to either promote or trade him if another club was willing to call him up.

According to The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier, the Red Sox expressed a willingness to add Littell to their big-league roster, which led to Friday’s trade taking place.

Littell spent the first month of the 2023 season with the Rangers’ Triple-A affiliate in Round Rock after signing a minors pact with Texas in February. In eight relief appearances for the Express, the righty posted a 2.25 ERA with 16 strikeouts to two walks over 12 innings of work.

A former 11th-round draft selection of the Mariners out of Eastern Alamance High School (N.C.) in 2013, Littell made his major-league debut in 2018 and owns a lifetime 4.08 ERA (4.66 FIP) with 151 strikeouts to 60 walks in 145 career outings (four starts, 169 2/3 innings) between the Twins and Giants.

After a breakout 2021 campaign in which he produced a 2.92 ERA in a career-high 63 appearances for San Francisco, Littell struggled to a 5.08 ERA across 44 1/3 innings last season. He most notably got in a heated argument with manager Gabe Kapler after getting pulled from a game in September and was later outrighted by the Giants before electing free agency in November.

Listed at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, Littell operates with a three-pitch mix that consists of a mid-90s four-seam fastball, a high-80s slider, and a mid-80s splitter, per Baseball Savant.

Littell, who will wear the No. 52 with the Red Sox, is out of minor-league options. In other words, the North Carolina native has to stick on Boston’s 40-man roster or he will otherwise be designated for assignment if the club intends on sending him back to the minors by hoping he clears waivers.

Ort, meanwhile, returns to Worcester after a brief one-day stint with the Red Sox. The 31-year-old was called up on Friday night to take the roster spot of Kutter Crawford, who was placed on the 15-day injured list due to a left hamstring strain. He did not pitch in Friday’s win over the Phillies.

Duvall has been on the injured list since April 10 due to a distal radius fracture in his left wrist. The 34-year-old slugger did not require surgery and has since transitioned from a hard cast to a removable splint. While he has yet to swing a bat, he has been running and doing other conditioning work, per The Boston Globe’s Pete Abraham.

Because he was transferred to the 60-day injured list, Duvall cannot be activated June 9 at the earliest. It remains to be seen if he will require the minimum 60 days or will still be sidelined beyond that date.

(Picture of Zack Littel: Ben Ludeman/Texas Rangers/Getty Images)

Red Sox acquire reliever Zack Littell in minor trade with Rangers

The Red Sox have acquired right-handed reliever Zack Littell from the Rangers in exchange for cash considerations, according to MLB.com’s Kennedi Landry.

Littell had been with Texas’ Triple-A affiliate in Round Rock and was not the club’s 40-man roster. The 27-year-old will report to Triple-A Worcester in the coming days, per MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo.

A former 11th-round draft selection of the Mariners out of Eastern Alamance High School (N.C.) in 2013, Littell made his major-league debut for the Twins at the age of 22 in 2018. He spent parts of three seasons in Minnesota, pitching to a 4.52 ERA in 43 appearances (two starts) spanning 63 2/3 innings of work.

Littell was outrighted off the Twins’ 40-man roster at the conclusion of the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign and signed a minor-league contract with the Giants the following February. The righty enjoyed a breakout year in 2021 by posting a 2.92 ERA over a career-high 63 appearances (two starts, 61 2/3) innings) for San Francisco. He then fell back to earth in 2022 (5.08 ERA in 44 1/3 innings) and most notably got in a heated argument with manager Gabe Kapler after getting pulled from a game last September.

The Giants subsequently parted ways with Littell in November, which allowed him to sign a minors pact with the Rangers earlier this spring. For his career, Littel owns a lifetime 4.08 ERA with 151 strikeouts to 60 walks across 145 outings (four starts) and 169 2/3 innings at the major-league level. Ahead of Friday’s trade, he had forged a 2.25 ERA with 16 strikeouts to two walks in eight relief appearances (12 innings) for Round Rock to begin the 2023 season.

Listed at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, Littell operates with a three-pitch mix that consists of a mid-90s four-seam fastball, a high-80s slider, and a mid-80s splitter, per Baseball Savant. The North Carolina native should provide the Red Sox with some emergency bullpen depth in Worcester alongside the likes of Taylor Broadway, Jake Faria, Justin Garza, Andrew Politi, and Ryan Sheriff, among others.

As things stand now, the Red Sox currently have four relievers on the injured list in Kutter Crawford, Zack Kelly, Wyatt Mills, and Joely Rodriguez. Crawford was placed on the 15-day injured list because of a left hamstring strain earlier Friday afternoon. Kaleb Ort was recalled from Worcester to take his place on the big-league roster for the time being.

(Picture of Zack Littel: Ben Ludeman/Texas Rangers/Getty Images)

Red Sox place Kutter Crawford on 15-day injured list with left hamstring strain, recall Kaleb Ort from from Triple-A Worcester

The Red Sox have placed right-hander Kutter Crawford on the 15-day injured list with a left hamstring strain, the club announced prior to Friday’s series opener against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. In a corresponding move, fellow reliever Kaleb Ort was recalled from Triple-A Worcester.

Crawford strained his left hamstring in the ninth inning of Wednesday night’s 8-3 win over the Blue Jays. Perhaps it was due to pitching in wet and rainy conditions at Fenway Park, but the 27-year-old hurler appeared to be in visible discomfort after retiring Alejandro Kirk.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora was optimistic that Crawford would be able to avoid a stint on the injured list but that is no longer the case. Crawford, who was in Boston’s Opening Day rotation to begin the year, has since emerged as a versatile multi-inning reliever alongside Josh Winckowski.

Including Wednesday’s injury-shortened outing, Crawford has posted a 1.08 ERA and 3.66 FIP with 12 strikeouts to just one walk in five relief appearances (16 2/3 innings) dating back to April 13. He currently ranks in the 95th percentile in walk rate (2.9 percent) and the 98th percentile in chase rate (39.5 percent), per Baseball Savant.

Because his stint on the injured list was backdated to May 4, Crawford will not be eligible to be activated until May 19 at the earliest. In the meantime, Cora and Co. will need to find a way to cover the innings he would have been responsible for out of the bullpen.

Ort, meanwhile, was optioned to Worcester this past Sunday as a corresponding move for the activation of Chris Martin. The 31-year-old did not appear in a game for the WooSox and is now back with the big-league club less than a week after getting sent down.

After making his first career Opening Day back in March, Ort got his 2023 season off a tough start by posting a 7.30 ERA and 6.28 FIP with 12 strikeouts to six walks in 12 relief appearances (12 1/3 innings). He surrendered five runs (four earned) to the Orioles on April 25. Opponents are now batting .308/.383/.577 against him.

As those numbers indicate, Ort has struggled when it comes to missing bats so far this year. According to Baseball Savant, the hard-throwing righty ranks in the second percentile of all big-league pitchers in whiff rate (15.7 percent), the 21st percentile in chase rate (24 percent), the 35th percentile in barrel rate (9.3 percent), and the 37th percentile in hard-hit rate (41.9 percent). Not ideal.

With that being said, the Red Sox still remain intrigued by Ort’s arsenal, which at present consists of a mid-90s four-seam fastball, a mid-80s slider, and a low-90s changeup. Pitching coach Dave Bush alluded to as much when speaking with reporters (including MassLive.com’s Christopher Smith) last weekend.

“A lot of it is command,” Bush said. “Being able to put the ball where he wants to. We do like the stuff. We still like it. The fastball quality’s there. The slider shape is good. At times, the changeup has been a really effective pitch for him. But the command has been off. Pitching behind in the count and putting too many guys on base.

“The message we sent to him is to get down and work on his delivery so he can throw the ball where he wants to,” added Bush. “Because we do like the stuff. The stuff is still big. He’s still a power guy. But he has to command the ball where he wants to and throw more strikes. That was the directive when he went down and there’s some things to work on in Worcester to get back to being the guy we know he can be.”

(Picture of Kutter Crawford: Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)

Red Sox option Kaleb Ort to Triple-A Worcester ahead of Chris Martin’s return from injured list

The Red Sox optioned reliever Kaleb Ort to Triple-A Worcester following Saturday night’s 8-7 win over the Guardians, according to The Boston Globe’s Julian McWilliams.

By optioning Ort, the Red Sox have cleared a roster spot for fellow reliever Chris Martin, who is expected to be activated from the 15-day injured list ahead of Sunday’s series finale against Cleveland.

Ort, 31, has posted a 7.30 ERA and 6.27 FIP with 12 strikeouts to six walks in 12 relief appearances spanning 12 1/3 innings of work out of the Boston bullpen so far this season. The right-hander last pitched against the Orioles on Tuesday, allowing five runs (four earned) on four hits (two home runs) in just one-third of an inning.

When Ort entered that game in Baltimore, the Red Sox had an 8-1 lead over the O’s. By giving up five runs and only recording one out, Ort forced manager Alex Cora to bring in closer Kenley Jansen, who notched the save and secured an 8-6 win by retiring the only two batters he faced.

Though the Red Sox remain intrigued by Ort’s arsenal, particularly his upper-90s fastball, the righty has yet to find success on a consistent basis at the big-league level. He will now look to sort things out in Worcester, where he pitched to a 2.88 ERA in 39 appearances (40 2/3 innings) last year.

Martin, meanwhile, was placed on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation on April 16 (retroactive to April 13). The 36-year-old underwent an MRI after reporting arm discomfort, but the results revealed only inflammation as opposed to any sort of structural damage.

As such, Martin was never expected to be out of action for too long. After dealing with a stomach bug earlier this week, the veteran hurler made a rehab appearance for the WooSox at Polar Park on Friday night and allowed two unearned runs on two hits in one inning of work.

“I feel like I got what I needed [from the rehab outing] and today I feel good,” Martin told The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier at Fenway Park earlier Saturday afternoon. “I’m starting to feel better. I’ve just got to keep with the process and keep working on the tedious things.”

Martin, who turns 37 in June, signed a two-year, $17.5 million with the Red Sox back in December. Prior to going on the injured list, he posted a 2.57 ERA and 5.06 FIP with two strikeouts and one walk through his first seven outings (seven innings) of the season.

(Picture of Kaleb Ort: Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Red Sox claim righty reliever Justin Garza off waivers from Angels

The Red Sox have claimed right-hander Justin Garza off waivers from the Angels and optioned him to Triple-A Worcester, the club announced earlier Friday afternoon. A corresponding move was not needed since Boston had an open spot on its 40-man roster.

Garza, 29, was designated for assignment by the Angels last week after not appearing in a game for Los Angeles to start the 2023 season. The righty instead began the year in Triple-A Salt Lake after being optioned there last month. In six relief appearances for the Bees, he posted a 4.32 ERA with five strikeouts to four walks over 8 1/3 innings of work.

A native of California, Garza was originally selected by the Guardians in the eighth round of the 2015 amateur draft out of Cal State Fullerton. He spent six years in Cleveland’s minor-league system before making his major-league debut in June 2021.

With the Guardians (then the Indians), Garza forged a 4.71 ERA and 5.30 FIP to go along with 29 strikeouts to 18 walks in 21 appearances (28 2/3 innings). He was outrighted off Cleveland’s 40-man roster that November and spent the entirety of the 2022 campaign with Triple-A Columbus before reaching free agency last winter.

Garza signed a split deal with the Angels in December, but his stay in Los Angeles proved to be a short one. He lost his spot on the Halos’ 40-man roster after veteran catcher Chad Wallach and fellow reliever Austin Warren had their contracts selected from Salt Lake last Friday.

Listed at 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds, Garza operates with a five-pitch mix that consists of a sinker, a cutter, a slider, a changeup, and a four-seam fastball, per Baseball Savant. For his career at the Triple-A level — which spans three seasons — Garza owns a lifetime 3.67 ERA with 86 strikeouts to 36 walks in 57 outings spanning 72 2/3 innings of relief.

With that, Garza should provide the Red Sox with some experienced bullpen depth in Worcester. He has three minor-league options remaining and is only on the hook for the major-league minimum.

By adding Garza via waivers, Boston’s 40-man roster is now at full capacity.

(Picture of Justin Garza: Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Red Sox’ Yu Chang undergoes successful hand surgery

Red Sox infielder Yu Chang underwent a successful left hamate excision on Thursday, the club announced. The procedure was performed by Dr. Matthew Leibman at Newton-Wellesley Hospital.

Chang fractured his left hamate bone (a hook-like structure between the hand and the wrist) on a swing-and-miss in the seventh inning of Monday’s 5-4 loss to the Orioles in Baltimore. He was placed on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday and told reporters (including MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo) shortly thereafter that he expected to be sidelined for approximately six weeks.

“I feel grateful to play shortstop every day,” Chang said through translator Patrick Chu. “I appreciate the team giving me the opportunity to play there every day, to prove myself. But now, the unfortunate thing happened.”

Chang, 27, signed a one-year, $850,000 deal with the Red Sox in February after appearing in 11 games for the club season. The Taiwan native did not report to spring training in Fort Myers until late March, however, as he was delayed by visa issues after playing for Chinese Taipei and earning Pool A MVP honors in the World Baseball Classic.

Despite the lack of time with the team in camp, Chang still made Boston’s Opening Day roster. The right-handed hitter was used sparingly off the bench out of the gate, but he was thrust into action after Adam Duvall fractured his left wrist on April 9 and Enrique Hernandez began playing more center field as a result.

Prior to Tuesday’s injury, Chang had started 10 of the Sox’ last 12 games at shortstop. And although he was slashing just .186/.174/.341 in 47 plate appearances to begin the year, the 6-foot-1, 180-pounder was providing some pop with his bat in the form of three home runs in his last eight games. He had also proven to be a quality defender at short, registering three defensive runs saved across 91 innings at the position.

With Chang set to miss the next several weeks, Red Sox manager Alex Cora will be changing up his middle infield mix yet again. According to Cotillo, Hernandez is expected move back to shortstop on a full-time basis while Christian Arroyo and rookie Enmanuel Valdez (who was called up in place of Chang) will split time at second base. Jarren Duran will also play more center field on account of Hernandez’s shift to short.

(Picture of Yu Chang: G Fiume/Getty Images)

Red Sox place Yu Chang on 10-day injured list with left hamate fracture, recall Enmanuel Valdez from Triple-A Worcester

The Red Sox have placed infielder Yu Chang on the 10-day injured list due to a left hamate fracture, the club announced earlier Tuesday afternoon. In a corresponding move, infielder/outfielder Enmanuel Valdez was recalled from Triple-A Worcester.

Chang suffered the fracture in the seventh inning of Monday’s 5-4 loss to the Orioles in Baltimore. After swinging and missing on a 1-1, 80.3 mph slider from reliever Bryan Baker, the 27-year-old could be seen wincing in pain, which prompted Red Sox manager Alex Cora and assistant athletic trainer David Herrera to emerge from the visitor’s dugout.

After a brief conference in which his left hand was examined, Chang was removed from the game and replaced by Christian Arroyo, who struck out in his place. Arroyo then took over at second base while Enrique Hernandez slid over from second to shortstop for the final two innings of the contest.

Chang was later diagnosed with “left wrist pain” and underwent further testing in Baltimore on Tuesday. Cora and Co. were hopeful that Chang had avoided injuring his hamate bone (a hook-like structure that forms part of the wrist joint) but that is indeed what happened. He will now undergo surgery on Thursday and will be sidelined for approximately six weeks.

Signed to a one-year, $850,000 deal in February, Chang was brought in to serve as a reserve outfielder on account of his versatility. After Adam Duvall fractured his left wrist on April 9, though, Chang has seen his playing time at shortstop increase as a result of Hernandez logging more innings in center field. Coming into play on Tuesday, Chang had started five straight and 10 of the last 12 games at shortstop for Boston.

Listed at 6-foo-1 and 180 pounds, Chang has been worth three outs above average across 91 innings at shortstop, 18 innings at second base, and two innings at third base. That currently ranks in the 93rd percentile of all big-leaguers, per Baseball Savant.

On the other side of the ball, the right-handed hitting Chang has batted .136/.174/.341 with three home runs, eight RBIs, five runs scored, one stolen base, one walk, and 12 strikeouts in 17 games (47 plate appearances) so far this season. All three of those homers have come within the last 10 days.

Valdez, meanwhile, made his major-league debut at Fenway Park last Wednesday. The 24-year-old went 2-for-4 with a pair of opposite-field singles and a strikeout in a 10-4 loss to the Twins. He also committed a fielding error at second base and spent just one day on the active roster while Chang was out on paternity leave.

Acquired from the Astros alongside outfield prospect Wilyer Abreu in last Augusts’s Christian Vazquez trade, Valdez — a Dominican Republic native — is currently regarded by Baseball America as the No. 19 prospect in the Red Sox’ farm system. The left-handed hitter is not in Tuesday’s starting lineup.

(Picture of Yu Chang: Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

Red Sox’ Yu Chang leaves game with left wrist injury

Red Sox infielder Yu Chang was forced to exit Monday’s 5-4 loss to the Orioles in the seventh inning with a left wrist injury.

With two outs in the top of the seventh, Chang swung and missed at a 1-1, 80.3 mph slider from Orioles reliever Bryan Baker. Upon completion of his swing, the 27-year-old was clearly wincing in pain, which prompted manager Alex Cora and assistant athletic trainer David Herrera to pay him a visit from the visitor’s dugout.

After a brief conference, Chang was removed from the game and was replaced by Christian Arroyo, who struck out in his place. Arroyo then took over defensively at second base while Enrique Hernandez slid over from second to shortstop for the final two innings.

Chang was later diagnosed with what the Red Sox described as “left wrist pain” and will undergo further testing in Baltimore on Tuesday to determine the severity of the injury. There is some preliminary concern that Chang may have injured his hamate bone, a hook-like structure that forms part of the wrist joint.

“He’s in pain. He’s going to get tested tomorrow,” Cora told reporters (including MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo) at Camden Yards. We’ll see where we’re at. Right now, it’s sore. That’s all we can say right now.”

According to Cotillo, who was in the clubhouse after the game, Chang could be seen expressing concern about the potential severity of his injury to a teammate. To that end, it seems likely that Chang will be placed on the injured list and an infielder will be called up from Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday.

Two prime candidates to fill in for Chang are prospects Enmanuel Valdez, who made his major-league debut last week while Chang was out on paternity leave, and the speedy David Hamilton, who currently owns a .997 OPS in his first 17 games with the WooSox this season. Both Valdez and Hamilton are already on Boston’s 40-man roster.

As noted by Cotillo, any serious injury to Chang would further shake up Boston’s middle infield depth since Trevor Story (elbow surgery) and Adalberto Mondesi (ACL rehab) are already on the 60-day injured list. Chang was brought in as a reserve infielder, but he has seen his playing time increase in recent weeks after Adam Duvall broke his left wrist and Hernandez started to log more innings in center field as a result.

Including Monday, Chang had started five straight and 10 of the last 12 games at shortstop for the Red Sox. The versatile 6-foot-1, 180-pounder has provided the club with some surehanded defense across the infield, but he has also showed some signs of life at the plate by making hard contact and homering three times in his last eight games.

(Picture of Yu Chang: Greg Fiume/Getty Images)