Tag: woosox

Kiké Hernández rehab assignment: Red Sox utility man crushes grand slam as part of two-homer day for Triple-A Worcester

In the second game of his rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester on Sunday afternoon, Red Sox utility man Kiké Hernández enjoyed a fine day at the plate against the Syracuse Mets at Polar Park.

Batting out of the leadoff spot while starting in center field, Hernandez went 2-for-4 with two home runs — including a grand slam — and five RBI before his day came to an end after seven innings.

After grounding out to second base in his first at-bat against Mets starter Jesus Reyes, Hernandez took full advantage of the opportunity he was given in the second inning.

With two outs and the bases full, the 29-year-old swung at the first pitch he saw from Reyes and crushed it approximately 457 feet over everything in left-center field.

Not only did Hernandez’s slam give his side a 5-0 lead, it was also the first grand slam in WooSox history.

Fast forward to the seventh, and Hernandez struck again when matched up against Mets reliever A.J. Schugel, this time depositing a solo shot to left-center to put the WooSox up 7-3 in what would turn out to be a 7-4 victory on Sunday.

In addition to contributing offensively, Hernandez also showed off his arm strength in the fifth inning when he snuffed out Wilfredo Tovar at third base after the Mets infielder unsuccessfully tried to turn a two-out double into a triple.

Through two games with Worcester now, the right-handed hitter is 2-for-6 with those two home runs, five RBI, and three runs scored. He got two at-bats as the WooSox’ designated hitter on Saturday and — as previously mentioned — played seven innings of center field on Sunday.

Hernandez has been on the injured list since last Friday after suffering a right hamstring strain against the Tigers on May 6, meaning he would be eligible to come off the IL when the Red Sox open a three-game series against the Blue Jays in Dunedin, Fla. on Tuesday.

That being said, Sox manager Alex Cora relayed earlier Sunday that no decision has been made in regards to when Hernandez could be activated.

“I just saw Chaim [Bloom] and [head trainer] Brad [Pearson],” Cora said following his team’s 6-5 loss to the Angels. “So we’re waiting for him to get here, I guess, and see how he feels. But, I guess, he feels good at the plate for what they said. So we’ll wait for him to get here and then go from there.”

If all goes well, it seems likely that Hernandez will be activated before Tuesday’s series opener against Toronto, while one of Jonathan Arauz or Michael Chavis would be sent back down to Worcester. We will have to wait and see on that.

(Picture of Kiké Hernández: Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)

Red Sox activate Garrett Whitlock from COVID-19 related injured list, option Colten Brewer to Triple-A Worcester

Before wrapping up their three-game series against the Angels on Sunday, the Red Sox activated right-hander Nick Pivetta from the COVID-19 related injured list.

In a corresponding move, right-handed reliever Colten Brewer was optioned to Triple-A Worcester, the team announced earlier Sunday.

Whitlock was originally placed on the COVID IL on Saturday due to side effects from vaccination. He wound up only missing one game on account of feeling under the weather after receiving the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Through 10 appearances out of the Boston bullpen this season, the 24-year-old rookie has posted a 1.77 ERA, a 2.92 FIP, and a 21:3 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 20 1/3 innings pitched.

Per MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo, “Whitlock will be available out of the bullpen in Sunday’s series finale but is unlikely to pitch after throwing three innings Thursday night against Oakland.”

Brewer, meanwhile, was not used in the brief amount of time he was up with the Red Sox this weekend after beginning the year in the WooSox’ bullpen.

The 28-year-old hurler has compiled a 4.59 ERA, a 5.14 FIP, and a 77:48 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 69 total appearances (four starts) and 80 1/3 innings pitched in parts of two seasons with Boston since coming over from the Padres in a November 2018 trade.

(Picture of Garrett Whitlock: Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox activate Nick Pivetta from COVID-19 related injured list, option Eduard Bazardo to Triple-A Worcester

Before wrapping up their three-game series against the Athletics on Thursday night, the Red Sox reinstated right-hander Nick Pivetta from the COVID-19 related injured list.

In a corresponding move, right-handed reliever Eduard Bazardo was optioned to Triple-A Worcester, the team announced Thursday.

Pivetta was originally placed on the COVID-related IL on Wednesday due to side effects from the second COVID-19 vaccination, so his stay on the injured list turned out to be a short one.

“As you guys know, this is kind of like how people react to the shot,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said of Pivetta before Thursday’s game. “And he’s feeling better. He’s feeling better. So the hope, obviously, is for him to start tomorrow.”

Through seven starts this season, Pivetta has proven to be one of Boston’s most consistent starters, posting a 3.19 ERA and 3.78 FIP to go along with 35 strikeouts over his first 36 2/3 innings pitched.

As Cora said, the 28-year-old is slated to make his eighth start of the year against the Angels at Fenway Park on Friday night, and that now appears to be official.

Bazardo, meanwhile, heads back down to Triple-A Worcester less than 24 hours after being called up for his second major-league stint of the season.

After making his big-league debut in Minnesota last month, the 25-year-old hurler made his Fenway Park debut in Wednesday’s game against the A’s.

Working the seventh and eighth innings of an eventual 4-1 loss for Boston, Bazardo tossed two scoreless frames of relief while striking out a pair in the process of retiring six of the seven hitters he faced.

Bazardo, who does not turn 26 until September, is currently regarded by MLB Pipeline as the No. 27 prospect in the Sox’ farm system.

(Picture of Nick Pivetta: Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox injuries: Kiké Hernández, Christian Arroyo expected to begin rehab assignments with Triple-A Worcester later this week

Kiké Hernández and Christian Arroyo have been on the Red Sox’ 10-day injured list since May 7 and May 9, respectively.

Hernandez suffered a right hamstring strain against the Tigers on May 6. The 29-year-old led off that game by hitting a hard-hit double, but then needed to be pinch-ran for by Franchy Cordero after tightening his hamstring while running the bases.

Arroyo, meanwhile, suffered a left hand contusion in the sixth inning of a 6-5 loss to Detroit on May 5.

The 25-year-old took a 92 mph sinker from Casey Mize off the top of his left hand last Wednesday and would need to leave the game after the seventh inning. X-rays on his hand did come back negative.

After being held out of the starting lineup and only being used as a defensive replacement on one occasion, Arroyo was ultimately placed on the IL on Sunday, though the beginning of his stint was backdated to May 7.

This past Wednesday was not the first time Arroyo has taken a pitch off his left hand this season. The right-handed hitter was drilled in the same area by Mariners right-hander Drew Steckenrider back on April 25, which resulted in him missing two games.

While both Arroyo and Hernandez are close to returning, the pair will more than likely began rehab assignments with Triple-A Worcester during their series against Syracuse at Polar Park this week, Red Sox manager Alex Cora said during his weekly call-in appearance on WEEI’s Ordway, Merloni & Fauria.

“Most likely, Enrique and Christian, they’ll play maybe two games in Worcester,” Cora said Wednesday afternoon. “Rehab games. Hopefully, they’ll be ready for the road trip or whenever they’re available to come off the IL.”

Hernandez will be eligible to be activated from the injured list as soon as Tuesday, while Arroyo will be eligible to be activated as soon as next Wednesday.

In the meantime, Cora told reporters prior to Wednesday’s game against the Athletics that the Sox have yet to map out an exact plan for either player, just that they will be playing in Worcester before returning to the big-league club.

“Not mapped out, but it’s an idea,” said Cora. “We feel good about where they’re at. Especially with Enrique. So we would like them to see (pitchers) to play a little bit. It might be one game or two games. Especially in that situation (with a hamstring). To run around, play the outfield, maybe play second base one day. It’s trending in the right direction and it seems like both of them should be with us sooner rather than later.”

As noted by MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo, infielders Jonathan Arauz and Michael Chavis were called up from the WooSox to fill the empty roster spots, to they would likely head back down to Worcester as soon as Arroyo and Hernandez are ready to be activated.

(Picture of Christian Arroyo and Kiké Hernández: Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)