BOSTON — The Red Sox made a flurry of roster moves Tuesday. Fortunately for Boston, the moves didn’t include catcher Blake Swihart going on the disabled list.
It was reasonable to wonder Tuesday afternoon whether Swihart was destined for the DL because catcher Erik Kratz, who was claimed off waivers Sunday from the Kansas City Royals, was spotted in the Red Sox’s clubhouse at Fenway Park. Kratz indeed was added to Boston’s active roster before the game against the Baltimore Orioles, but no move was made involving Swihart, who has been battling a left foot sprain. Swihart still is day to day, according to Red Sox manager John Farrell.
Farrell said he’s hopeful Swihart, who missed Sunday’s series finale against the Royals before being held out of Tuesday’s starting lineup, will return Wednesday. Swihart exited Saturday’s game after injuring himself while sliding into third base in the fifth inning of that contest.
A few other injury-related tidbits:
— Third baseman Pablo Sandoval returned to the starting lineup Tuesday after missing Sunday’s game with a left ankle sprain. Sandoval, like Swihart, exited Saturday’s game and even was spotted in a walking boot following that contest, so the Red Sox certainly dodged a bullet.
— Catcher Ryan Hanigan, who has been on the DL since May 2, when he had surgery to repair a right hand fracture, began a rehab assignment Monday at Triple-A Pawtucket. He caught the first six innings, going 0-for-3 with a run scored. The veteran backstop allowed a stolen base.
Hanigan will serve as the designated hitter Tuesday for the PawSox. He’s scheduled to catch again with Pawtucket on Wednesday before joining Double-A Portland to continue his rehab stint there. Hanigan is eligible to return from the DL on July 1.
“The whole thought is to get him to back-to-back nine-inning games, hopefully within the next week,” Farrell said before Tuesday’s game.
— Outfielder Shane Victorino, who has been on the DL since May 24 with a calf injury, is expected to begin a rehab assignment Wednesday with Pawtucket.
Thumbnail photo via Denny Medley/USA TODAY Sports Images
