Alex Cora optimistic about the return of Wilyer Abreu next week

Boston Globe

a day ago

'This is what we thought it was going to be [timeline-wise],' said Cora, who referenced Abreu participating in weight-room activities. 'We talked to him [Monday], no chance we were going to play shorthanded for three or four days. This is the best move for him and obviously the roster.'
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That tracks with the initial thought from Red Sox decision-makers that Abreu's injury maybe wouldn't require a stint on the injured list at all. When they realized Monday afternoon Abreu needed more than a day or two of recovery, they opted to play it safe and put him on the IL, prompting the call-up of Anthony, regarded as the top prospect in baseball.
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If Abreu indeed comes back quickly, it would raise questions about playing time, outfield arrangement and roster construction.
The answers should depend on who is playing to what level of success by the time Abreu is ready.
In Abreu's stead, Anthony is due to stick in right field, though he played all three outfield spots in the minors.
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Slow for Slaten
Reliever
Justin Slaten
(right shoulder inflammation) remains stuck in a shutdown period, according to Cora, and is not close to returning. He has been on the IL since June 1, his second arm injury in 11 months.
'It's slower than we expected, let's put it that way,' Cora said. 'He hasn't thrown. He hasn't reacted to treatment the way we expected. It's a slow process.'
Slaten had served as a key late-inning option for Cora, who has had to lean more heavily on others in Slaten's absence.
'It's a big [loss],' Cora said. 'Hopefully this is something we can figure out in the upcoming days and get him going. Right now, it doesn't seem like it's going to be soon.'
Numbers game
Anthony, who wore No. 48 in his debut Monday, switched to No. 19 on Tuesday.
He said clubhouse manager
Tom McLaughlin
gave it to him because he had worn that number in Triple A.
Among the noteworthy former Sox who have worn No. 19:
Jackie Bradley Jr.
(2017-20 and 2022),
Koji Uehara
(2013-16),
Josh Beckett
(2006-12),
Fred Lynn
(1974-80) and
Moe Berg
(1935). Most recently, it had been worn last month by Middleborough native
Sean Newcomb
.
Left out versus lefties
Cora reiterated his plan to mostly not let Anthony as well as
Marcelo Mayer
bat against lefthanded pitchers, preferring the righthanded bats of
Rob Refsnyder
and
Romy Gonzalez
, respectively, in those spots.
Even if Anthony in particular fared well against southpaws in the minors this year, Cora explained that there is a significant difference between those lefthanders and the lefties in the majors. So his righty/lefty splits aren't particularly meaningful.
'The gap is big. It's very big,' Cora said. 'The lefties here are real lefties. There's stuff here, especially guys in the bullpen … If you have stuff, you're going to be here. You're not going to be in Triple A or Double A.
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'The kids, they understand … They're all in to win it. They know. We will keep doing that.'
Up in arms
Of the 35 relievers who have appeared in 30 or more games this season, three are Red Sox:
Greg Weissert
(31),
Brennan Bernardino
(31) and
Aroldis Chapman
(30).
Chapman pitched for a third day in a row — for the first time this season — Monday.
'You're going to go through stretches that you don't pitch,' Cora said. 'It seems like we've been in this stretch that everybody pitches every day for a month now.'
. . .
Seymour's homecoming
The Rays optioned lefthander
Ian Seymour
, a St. John's of Shrewsbury product, back to Triple A Durham, a day after he picked up the win in his major league debut in Tampa Bay's 10-8 defeat of the Red Sox in 11 innings. Seymour pitched the two extra innings, allowing a lone unearned run and no hits . . . Lefthander
Chris Murphy
joined Triple A Worcester to continue his rehab assignment. He had Tommy John surgery in April 2024 . . .
Tanner Houck
(right flexor pronator strain) threw his second bullpen session Tuesday and said he is scheduled for another Friday . . . Tampa Bay's
Zack Littell
, who will start Wednesday, on his five days with the Red Sox in 2023: 'Every now and again, I'll see a picture of me in a Red Sox jersey and it's weird. It's almost like it didn't happen, but it did happen and there's proof.'
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Tim Healey can be reached at