The Boston Red Sox aren’t messing around with the high temperatures in southwest Florida.
David Ortiz is expected to be held out of the Red Sox’s lineup for a few days, manager John Farrell told reporters in Fort Myers before Wednesday’s game against the Minnesota Twins at JetBlue Park. The 39-year-old slugger dealt with dehydration issues following Monday’s spring training contest against the New York Mets and didn’t play in Tuesday’s game against the Atlanta Braves.
“There’s been a little bit of fatigue,” Farrell said. “We’re looking to give a bit of a blow to some of the guys. David is one of them. The last couple of days we’ve had guys come out with cramps. We’ve got to be careful that we don’t overload them at this point of time.
“I know it might sound a little crazy, but the intensity we’re going at it in the morning, guys are putting in very good work, we’ve got to monitor and back off when needed. We’re backing off (Ortiz) a few days.”
Ortiz told reporters he expects to be over the health issue in “a couple of days.” The 19-year veteran certainly is welcoming the rest, though, as he joked he has to take it easy during spring training nowadays due to his age.
“I don’t like spring training games, just to begin with,” Ortiz told reporters. “But besides that, I got a little dehydrated the other day, so they’re just taking care of that. It’ll be fine.”
Thumbnail photo via Tommy Gilligan/USA TODAY Sports Images
