The Boston Red Sox just got hit with some bad luck—Alex Bregman landed on the injured list with a right quad strain. As the team scrambles to figure out third base, manager Alex Cora says Rafael Devers will stick with his designated hitter role.
This decision has definitely set off debates among fans and analysts. To fill Bregman’s spot, the Red Sox called up top infield prospect Marcelo Mayer, who’ll now split third base duties with Nick Sogard and Abraham Toro.
Alex Bregman’s Injury and Its Impact
Bregman’s right quad strain couldn’t have come at a worse time for Boston. In 51 games this year, he was hitting .299 with a 938 OPS and 11 home runs, so losing him is a gut punch for the lineup.
It’s a bit of déjà vu—Bregman missed 58 games in 2021 with a similar injury. He’s clearly frustrated, bracing himself for a tough rehab stretch.
Rafael Devers: The Reluctant Designated Hitter
Even though plenty of folks want Devers back at third, Cora’s sticking to his guns and keeping him as DH. Devers has been crushing it, hitting .303 with a .971 OPS over 54 games.
Cora insists Devers is the best DH in the American League right now and could easily snag an All-Star or Silver Slugger nod. Devers, for his part, admits he misses playing defense, but he can’t argue with the results at the plate.
The Promotion of Marcelo Mayer
Boston promoted Marcelo Mayer, their top infield prospect, to help fill the gap. Mayer—picked in the first round back in 2021 and ranked No. 28 among all prospects—made his MLB debut at third base.
He hasn’t played much at third before, but he’ll be sharing the job with Sogard and Toro. Mayer’s bounced around the infield, so his flexibility should help as he settles in.
Nick Sogard and Abraham Toro: The Supporting Cast
Nick Sogard and Abraham Toro are also in the mix at third. Sogard’s seen nine games at third for Boston in the last two years, plus a ton of minor league experience—183 games, to be exact.
Toro brings more big-league time, with 161 games at third over seven seasons. Cora’s plan? Mix and match until something sticks, or until Bregman comes back.
The Red Sox’s Offense Without Bregman
With Bregman out, the Red Sox need others to step up. Devers has been on a tear—he just hit a three-run homer and a grand slam in the same game, driving in a career-high eight runs.
He also went 2-for-4 with a walk-off single in the 10th during the first game of a recent doubleheader. Wilyer Abreu and Jarren Duran have shown flashes too, and honestly, Boston needs their bats now more than ever.
Manager Alex Cora’s Confidence
Still, Cora sounds upbeat about the team’s chances. He points out the depth across the roster and says plenty of guys can step up.
He keeps repeating it: the Red Sox will be okay. They’re a good baseball team—at least, that’s what he believes.
Looking Ahead
The Red Sox face a challenging period without Bregman. Promoting Mayer and seeing Devers shine as a DH give at least a little hope.
The younger players need to step up. Honestly, fans are probably anxious to see how Mayer handles the majors and how the team copes without one of its key guys.
If you want more details, check out the full article on The New York Times.
- Schools Covered
- College Football Articles
- Men's College Basketball Articles
- Men's College Soccer Articles
- Women's College Basketball Articles
- Olympic Athlete Articles
- Men's College Baseball Articles
- College Sports Media Professionals Articles
- Hall of Fame Member Articles
- Former College Player Articles
- Game Previews