The Red Sox were plagued by injuries throughout all of 2012, and 2013 isn’t starting out much better in that regard.
Stephen Drew, who was struck in the helmet by a pitch on March 7, is still experiencing concussion symptoms, and there’s now a distinct possibility that he won’t be ready for Boston’s season opener against the Yankees on April 1.
“I think the window starts to narrow a little bit here,” Red Sox manager John Farrell told reporters before Sunday’s game. “We’re down to the final two weeks. He’s going to start to initiate some on-field activity and that’s just to go through stretch and play catch. No BP. When those symptoms are fully subsided is when he starts to ramp things up more intently and we’re not there yet.
“So at some point, we’re getting into this last stage of camp and yeah, you’ve got to start thinking about all the options. And the biggest question is when does he get back into a game?”
Farrell said that Drew consults with a specialist from the University of Pittsburgh on a daily basis, and the shortstop isn’t experiencing symptoms during periods of rest. But when he becomes more active — as has been the case during his exertion tests — the symptoms start to rear their ugly head, causing what Drew describes as a “wavy feeling.”
Drew’s injury is just one of a few plaguing the Red Sox during camp. David Ortiz‘s Opening Day status also remains up in the air, and there is no timetable for the return of relievers Franklin Morales and Craig Breslow.
If Drew is sidelined to begin the year, the Red Sox could opt to go with Jose Iglesias in his place.
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