NEW YORK — Red Sox reserve catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia will visit with hand specialist Dr. Thomas J. Graham on Monday to have his sore left thumb examined.
Saltalamacchia apparently has been dealing with the injury since before he was traded to Boston from Texas on July 31. He had attempted to play through it but was unable to do so in recent games.
"When he came over, the more we got to know him and talking to him it was becoming apparent his thumb was bothering him more and more," manager Terry Francona said.
Graham is the same specialist who handled Kevin Youkilis surgery last month. Youkilis had a torn adductor muscle in his right thumb.
Saltalamacchia was hitting just .158 (3-for-19) while playing sporadically for the Sox. He was hitless in his last seven at-bats. The 25-year-old, who was acquired for a minor leaguer, figured to be in the mix for a potential part-time catching role with Boston next year.
