The Crimson Sox had a number of lefty killers of their 2025 lineup.
The 2026 Crimson Sox might not have any, at the very least for a good portion of the season.
Romy Gonzalez will journey to Alabama Tuesday for a Wednesday appointment with Dr. Jeffrey Dugas, who will consider whether or not his injured left shoulder requires surgical procedure. Dugas repaired Gonzalez’s proper labrum in 2023, a season-ending surgical procedure, and has operated on a number of present and former Crimson Sox, together with right-handers Garrett Whitlock and Lucas Giolito in 2024.
“It’s a bit greater than a second opinion, I assume,” Gonzalez informed MassLive’s Sean McAdam on Saturday, “it’s extra of a ‘do or don’t’ relating to surgical procedure. I’m simply ready to listen to from him.”
Gonzalez revealed weeks in the past that exams on his shoulder, which has plagued him since September, confirmed a small tear. He acquired a platelet-rich plasma injection (PRP) in January after struggling a setback, and hasn’t been capable of take part in baseball actions.
The Crimson Sox have already accepted that Gonzalez gained’t be prepared for Opening Day. However Friday marked six weeks for the reason that PRP injection, which usually takes impact inside 4 to 6 weeks, and the exams revealed even much less enchancment than they hoped. Gonzalez additionally informed reporters he’s nonetheless coping with “lingering” ache.
The Crimson Sox have loads of infield bench choices, it’s Gonzalez’s bat that’s irreplaceable. He hit .305 with a .826 OPS in 96 video games final season, and owns a .317 common and .931 OPS line in opposition to left-handed pitching for the reason that Crimson Sox claimed him off waivers from the Chicago White Sox forward of the 2024 season.
Eighteen Boston batters performed at the very least 15 video games in opposition to lefties final 12 months, and the Crimson Sox had already misplaced three of the 5 who posted an OPS over .770: Rob Refsnyder (.959), Rafael Devers (.901) and Alex Bregman (.855). The Crimson Sox traded Devers to the San Francisco Giants final June, misplaced Refsnyder and Bregman in free company this offseason.
With out Gonzalez, who led the quintet with a .978 OPS in opposition to southpaws, Nick Sogard, who had a .857 OPS in opposition to southpaws however in simply 18 video games, is the final man standing.
The historic context of Gonzalez’s 2025 numbers solely underscores his absence from the Crimson Sox lineup. In line with StatHead, he’s one in every of 26 gamers in franchise historical past to publish an OPS of .978 or greater in at the very least 60 video games in opposition to lefties in a single season. The primary Crimson Sox to ever achieve this was Ted Williams, who had a 1.103 OPS in 61 video games in 1948; Dwight Evans (4x), Manny Ramirez (5x), David Ortiz (3x) and Mookie Betts are additionally on the listing.
Newcomer Andruw Monasterio, acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers final month alongside Caleb Durbin and Anthony Seigler, may assist fill the void. In 109 profession video games in opposition to lefties, Monasterio has a .255/.352/.375 slash line. Durbin additionally hit .258 with a .717 OPS in 68 video games in opposition to lefties in his 2025 rookie season.
Supervisor Alex Cora has lengthy protected youthful and less-experienced gamers, together with Wilyer Abreu, Jarren Duran, Triston Casas, Devers, and 2025 rookies Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer, from lefty pitching. Anthony hit .299 with a .903 OPS in 205 plate appearances in opposition to righties, and posted a .278 common and .770 OPS in 98 PAs in opposition to lefties. Mayer hit .248 with a .739 OPS in 109 plate appearances in opposition to righties, and .154 and a .416 OPS in 27 PAs in opposition to lefties.
“All through my profession as a supervisor, for those who take a look at my observe document, all these lefties, they platoon as a result of I understand how powerful it’s,” Cora stated in Could 2024, when discussing why Abreu wasn’t going through lefties. “Folks overlook we pinch-hit for Raffy in Recreation 1 of the (2018) World Collection.”
However since early within the offseason, Cora has reiterated that sure gamers will face extra lefties this season, significantly Abreu. The back-to-back Gold Glove right-fielder racked up 21 residence runs and a .808 OPS in 349 plate appearances in opposition to righties final 12 months, and just one homer and a .676 OPS in 68 plate appearances in opposition to lefties.
“We now have to see if they will do it, it’s about that point. Particularly with Abreu,” Cora stated at December’s MLB Winter Conferences. “If he can hit lefties and if he can hit for energy and play protection the best way he’s carried out the previous few years, he will be the man.”
Gonzalez stays optimistic about enjoying in 2026. However as has been the case all through spring coaching, he and the Crimson Sox can solely wait.
“(Surgical procedure) is just not a season-ender by any means, in my view,” Gonzalez stated. “I’ll simply should see what the doc says.”
