Red Sox’s Tyler O’Neill Explains Brief Multi-Day Departure From Team

BOSTON — It took a brief absence from the team for Red Sox outfielder Tyler O’Neill to resume baseball activities on Wednesday when the right-handed slugger returned to Boston’s clubhouse at Fenway Park.

O’Neill underwent a short-noticed departure from the team while Boston faced the Kansas City Royals on the road last week, which was initially chalked up a stomach illness as the cause. The 29-year-old was admitted to the hospital for a two-day stay, only to find himself back, this time at Mass General Hospital, last Saturday. O’Neill wasn’t examined for a stomach virus again, but instead for a leg infection that required a four-day-long day under medical care before rejoining the Red Sox.

“It was a pretty last 10 days for me,” O’Neill said before Wednesday night’s series finale against the Texas Rangers. “I just woke up, my leg was blown up. Totally unexpected, no idea how it happened. Just had to get antibiotics right away, get on a drip for a little bit, and (I’m) just thankful for everyone that was involved in getting me on the right foot. … Hospitals are no fun, but I needed to be in there for a little bit. Again, they took really good care of me and I’m grateful for everybody that was a part of it, and the healing process, and just happy to be back. Happy to be back with the team, live a little bit of normalcy and hopefully (I’ll return to the field) sooner than later.”

O’Neill’s been a pivotal member of Boston’s lineup amid the seven-year veteran’s debut campaign in a Red Sox uniform — most notably in the power department. O’Neill, who’s slashed .268/.357/.444 through 342 plate appearances in 2024, sits second for the club’s home run lead (24) behind Rafael Devers (25). A two-time Gold Glove Award recipient, O’Neill has provided Boston with a valuable mix of defense, offense and versatility, capable of coming off the bench or taking a backseat depending on what matchup(s) Red Sox manager Alex Cora deems most favorable for the team. Nevertheless, Boston is more than ready to welcome O’Neill back whenever possible.

“When I heard about it, I was kind of like, ‘This is very serious,'” Cora said. “… He’s moving around. I had a conversation with him. He’s flying with us to Baltimore. (He will) track bullpens, take (batting practice) on the field, shag, do all that stuff. I’ll be surprised if he plays in Baltimore, but you never know. He’s a grinder, he wants to play so we’ll see how it goes today, tomorrow and what we gotta do over the weekend for him to be ready.”