The Boston Red Sox logged a win of sorts even as they lost to the division rival Tampa Bay Rays on Monday.
The team promoted Major League Baseball’s top-ranked prospect in Roman Anthony just before the matchup, giving its fans a reason to cheer even as playoff hopes slip away in the standings during a disappointing season so far. But lost by many fans among that news was a surprising injury update for franchise slugger Rafael Devers.
During Sunday’s game against the New York Yankees, Devers was seen slowing down halfway to first base after hitting a sixth-inning ground ball. It was initially suspected to be a display of poor hustle by Devers in a close play, but manager Alex Cora dismissed that idea after the game.
Subsequently, Cora announced that Devers was dealing with an injury.
“It’s one of those that … he’ll do his thing in the training room,” Cora said, per Sean McAdam of MassLive. “He keeps it very quiet because he wants to post. Talking to (one of the trainers), nothing major. It’s something that we can actually handle and he’ll be playing.”
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Devers was feeling well enough to hit second in the Red Sox lineup on Monday as the designated hitter, though the injury was apparently serious enough to impact his ability to run out close plays at first base as of Sunday.
Amid a season that has been a disappointment in the standings and full of drama in the clubhouse, this surprise announcement is another thing to keep an eye on.
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