Shane Victorino would have been in the Boston Red Sox’s starting lineup Wednesday if it was Opening Day.
The Red Sox decided to hold Victorino, who has been dealing with left side discomfort, out of Wednesday’s spring training game against the Baltimore Orioles as a precaution. Red Sox manager John Farrell said Wednesday he fully expects Victorino to be ready when the Sox open up their season versus the O’s on Monday.
“He’s going to be our right fielder on Opening Day, I can tell you that,” Farrell told reporters before Wednesday’s spring training game at JetBlue Park. “This has been a little bump in the road, but we expect him back on the field (Thursday).”
Victorino has been limited to just eight games this spring because of some physical issues, raising questions about whether or not the 33-year-old will be ready for the start of the regular season. Both Farrell and Victorino have no doubts, though, and this week’s decisions instead have been a matter of the Red Sox playing it safe with one of last season’s most valuable contributors.
“Don’t worry about me,” Victorino said, according to MassLive.com. “I’ll be out there March 31.”
Victorino is expected to return to game action Thursday. Farrell said he wasn’t sure if Victorino will play in that night’s Grapefruit League game against the Minnesota Twins or suit up in a minor league game during the day.
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