BOSTON — Tuesday’s Boston Red Sox game will be the 16th straight that Brock Holt has missed, but the utility man is making progress in his recovery from a concussion.
Holt participated in pregame warmups Tuesday evening and took batting practice for the first time since Sept. 5.
He is not expected to play in this week’s three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays, but manager John Farrell said the team is hopeful Holt will make his return during the team’s season-ending set against the New York Yankees, which begins Friday.
First baseman Mike Napoli also is not in the lineup for Tuesday’s series opener as he deals with a laundry list of injuries.
“With Nap, he’s still managing and dealing with a number of issues,” Farrell said. “That’s still the (finger), the back, the toe. … We’re just trying to get him through the remainder of the season.”
As with Holt, Farrell said he’s “hopeful” Napoli will play again before the end of the season.
Second baseman Dustin Pedroia, meanwhile, is progressing nicely after undergoing season-ending on his thumb/wrist earlier this month.
“Pedey has quickly gotten full range of motion with the thumb,” Farrell said. “He’s still in the early stages of recovery and rehab, but everything that he’s experienced following the surgery has been positive.”
