Mike Napoli is on standby.
With Blake Swihart unavailable for at least one day, Napoli is considered the Boston Red Sox’s backup catcher for Sunday’s series finale against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium, according to manager John Farrell. Sandy Leon, of course, earned the start behind the plate with Swihart sidelined.
Swihart, who suffered a left foot sprain in the fifth inning of Saturday’s 7-4 loss, is considered day to day. The Red Sox are hopeful the 23-year-old won’t require a disabled list stint, but his absence certainly backs the team into a corner.
“Well, until we know whether or not (Blake) is ready, we’ve got (Sunday) to get through and we’ll address it in the coming days,” Farrell told reporters in Kansas City before Sunday’s game. “If we get into a DL situation, we may have to look at a roster situation at that point. (Ryan) Hanigan is about to start his rehab assignment, so we’ve got something coming back to us in the short term.”
Boston already has lost two catchers this season — Christian Vazquez at the end of spring training and Hanigan at the beginning of May — and an injury to Leon in any game in which Swihart is unavailable, yet on the roster, would force Napoli to break out a catcher’s mitt for the first time since 2012. Napoli has played exclusively first base and DH since joining the Red Sox before the 2013 season.
“I wouldn’t let anybody else do it,” Napoli said of being Boston’s emergency backstop, according to The Boston Globe’s Pete Abraham.
Third baseman Pablo Sandoval also is dealing with an injury, as he suffered a left ankle sprain in the fifth inning of Saturday’s game. Sandoval, like Swihart, could avoid a DL stint despite being out of Sunday’s starting lineup. The Red Sox are thankful for Monday’s off day.
“Comes at a good time,” Farrell said of the off day. “We’ll see how they respond to treatment (Sunday) and (Monday) or what other testing is needed will be determined over the course of the next 24 hours or so. Hopefully this is short term for both guys.”
Brock Holt received the start at third base in Sandoval’s absence. Travis Shaw is available off the bench.
Thumbnail photo via Kevin Jairaj/USA TODAY Sports Images
