BOSTON — Hanley Ramirez has been playing hurt for a considerable chunk of the 2015 season, but the Boston Red Sox left fielder might have the opportunity save his body this year.
Ramirez revealed Monday ahead of Boston’s game against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park that he’s been playing through a sore left shoulder — he doesn’t remember when exactly he tweaked it — as well as a swollen left hand after he was struck by a line drive on June 24.
“I was missing some pitches I normally don’t miss,” Ramirez said, per WEEI’s Rob Bradford. “But I didn’t say anything until the last game in Detroit (on Aug. 9). This is not me. I’m such a good hitter, and I can’t look like that on the field. But I didn’t want to say anything because I wanted to play.”
Interim manager Torey Lovullo said before the Red Sox-Yankees matchup that there’s no timeline on when Ramirez will return to the field, but he’s unlikey to hit the disabled list because Major League Baseball rosters will be expanded to 40 men Tuesday for September call-ups.
Still, barring any health setbacks, Lovullo sees no reason why Ramirez can’t make the switch to first base, which should be less grueling for the outfielder, before the end of the season.
“When the shoulder initially bothered him, he took a couple days off, and then he was back out there (Sunday) taking ground balls pregame in New York (against the Mets),” Lovullo said. “He’s out there (Monday). So it set him back a couple days, but we have a good progression and we have a really good infield instructor in Brian Butterfield, who’s going to drive the bus on that.
“And through my eyes and what I’ve seen, I’ve seen an infielder in that body still. I see a guy that uses his hands well, understands the concept of getting in good position to field the ball. I think every time that I’m watching him, I think it’s something he can handle.”
And Lovullo thinks Ramirez could handle it sooner rather than later.
“Based on the health component, if that’s put beside us, I’ve seen enough to say he can probably play first base before the year’s over,” Lovullo said.
Thumbnail photo via Brett Davis/USA TODAY Sports Images
