BOSTON — The Red Sox dodged a huge bullet with Andrew Benintendi’s injury.
The Red Sox left fielder hit the 15-day disabled list Thursday after a pretty gruesome-looking knee injury he suffered during Wednesday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays, and many were expecting the worst. But after an examination in Boston on Friday before the Red Sox’s game against the Kansas City Royals, there only was good news at Fenway Park.
“He went through a battery of tests (Friday),” Red Sox manager John Farrell said. “Another MRI, X-rays, CT scan. All concur that he’s still dealing with the sprained left knee. No structural damage other than that. And when you think back and look at the video, this could have been much, much worse. Lucky that the ACL is not involved, so we’re still optimistic that he could return this season.”
Benintendi made a pretty decent impact in just 21 games for the Red Sox, batting .324 with 11 runs, 10 RBIs, six doubles, a triple and a home run. He also showed off his defensive skills with a spectacular catch at Tropicana Field, so naturally, the Red Sox breathed a sigh of relief when Benintendi’s tests came back negative.
“He’s walking around,” Farrell said. “He’s actually feeling better (Friday) than he did (Thursday). He’s in a brace, but not an immobilizing brace. It’s more just for support. So he’s improved here (Friday). This is going to take a little time. Obviously, it’s 15 days at a minimum. What further time is needed remains to be seen, but today was some good news, despite what it could’ve been.”
Benintendi looked much better Friday, too, ditching his knee brace and hopping up onto the top of the dugout seats to talk to reporters without even flinching. The 22-year-old knew how lucky he was, though.
“Obviously it was pretty disappointing,” Benintendi said. “It’s something you don’t plan on. At the time, I was nervous. I didn’t know what to expect. But, like I said, after re-evaluating it and all that, got pretty good news. I’m very fortunate.”
It certainly is a positive outcome, as Farrell noted the young left fielder has “been quickly embraced by this team.” But Benintendi downplayed that idea when asked if he feels like he’s proven he belongs on the Red Sox.
“I’ve tried to,” Benintendi said. “When I came up, they told me not to change the player I am and just be myself. They brought me in, made me feel extremely comfortable, which I think has made this transition even on the field easier. Hopefully I’ve played well enough this season.”
Thumbnail photo via Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports Images
