The Boston Red Sox took a tough 2-0 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Monday, but they might get a player back soon.
Hanley Ramirez starting throwing to bases ahead of Monday’s contest, but acting manager Torey Lovullo said there’s still no timetable on the first baseman’s return. Ramirez hit the 15-day disabled list on Sept. 5 (retroactive to Aug. 27) with a right shoulder injury.
“No, there’s no one given day,” Lovullo said, per MLB.com’s Ian Browne. “It’s a day-to-day thing with him with the feedback we’re getting from him, the medical team. We don’t want to put him in a situation where he’s not ready for a couple of different reasons. One of them is his health and the other one is his comfort level. Piece by piece, it’s getting better.”
Still, Ramirez’s recovery and transition to first base is going as expected.
“He feels good,” Lovullo said. “The footwork is coming along. It’s an overall feel from all of us to make sure that it’s the right time and the right situation to keep pushing him forward. (Monday)Â he’ll take more ground balls so he’ll be able to throw a little bit more, and he’s been taking (batting practice) and everything is looking very good.”
Here are some more notes from Monday’s loss.
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— Mookie Betts’ 18-game hitting streak came to an end after the outfielder went 0-for-3 with a walk. The streak had been the longest active one in Major League Baseball and was the Red Sox’s longest since Jacoby Ellsbury’s 19-game streak in 2013.
— Despite the fact that Boston’s offense couldn’t produce, it was a great start for Eduardo Rodriguez. The 22-year-old left-hander gave up just one earned run on five hits over 5 1/3 innings. Rodriguez has a 1.72 ERA in his last five starts.
The rookie also has been brilliant at getting himself out of trouble of late, which should bode well for the Red Sox in the future.
— Brock Holt, who provided one of Boston’s three hits when he pinch-hit in the eighth, was selected as this year’s Red Sox nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, which goes to a player who contributes off the field with community service, as well as on it.
Holt was named a Jimmy Fund co-captain, along with third baseman Pablo Sandoval, during spring training.
— Christian Vazquez should be A-OK come spring training.
Lovullo said Monday that the catcher is up to 120 feet in his throwing program, per MLB.com, and will get at-bats in the Instructional League as a designated hitter. Vazquez underwent Tommy John surgery in April to repair a torn UCL in his throwing elbow.
— Despite Monday’s loss, the Red Sox still have a decent chance at finishing out of last place in the American League East. The club is just two games behind the Orioles and one game behind the Tampa Bay Rays and have just one non-division series left in their schedule.
— Red Sox infield prospect Yoan Moncada reportedly will play in the Winter League in Puerto Rico this offseason, per The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier. The 20-year-old will play for the Criollos de Caguas under former Red Sox Alex Cora.
Thumbnail photo via Caylor Arnold/USA TODAY Sports Images
