Prior to Wednesday’s game, the Red Sox placed outfielder Tyler O’Neill on the 10-day injured list with right knee inflammation. The move was retroactive to Sunday, meaning O’Neill will be eligible to return as early as next Wednesday, and infielder Enmanuel Valdez was called up from Triple-A to fill his spot on the active roster.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters pregame that they expect O’Neill’s stay on the IL will be short.
O’Neill last played on Saturday against Milwaukee, when he was removed from the game after a brutal stretch in which he went 0 for 15 with 10 strikeouts over the prior four games. The outfielder had been struggling throughout the month, batting .151 with a 43.9% strikeout rate, and the hope is some rest will help him get back on track.
Valdez has appeared in 28 big league games this season, batting .156 with two home runs and a .452 OPS. The 25-year-old infielder has fared much better since being optioned to Triple-A, batting .230 with six home runs and an .887 OPS in 20 games with Worcester.
In addition to O’Neill, Cora also provided updates on injured first baseman Triston Casas (torn cartilage in rib cage) and designated hitter Masataka Yoshida (left thumb strain).
According to MassLive’s Christopher Smith, Cora told reporters that Casas is progressing fast and will visit a doctor at the end of the week. Casas recently began taking ground balls and is eligible to come off the 60-day IL on June 21.
Yoshida, meanwhile, should start swinging “in the upcoming days,” according to MLB.com’s Ian Browne.