The Boston Red Sox will be without Alex Bregman longer than they initially expected after the third baseman sustained a "significant" right quadriceps injury during Friday's game, manager Alex Cora announced Saturday.
"He's going to be out for a while. Very similar to (his previous quad injury in) '21," Cora said following Boston's 6-5 win over the Baltimore Orioles in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader.
"I'm not going to give you a timetable. Hopefully, our medical staff (will have him ready) sooner rather than later, but he will be out for a while."
Bregman left Friday's game accompanied by a trainer after singling in the fifth inning with what the team initially called right quad tightness. While initially optimistic about his status, an MRI taken Saturday confirmed the severity of his injury.
"Yeah no doubt, it surprised me a lot," Bregman said Saturday, according to Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald. "But it is what it is, and now I'm going to try and take it day by day and crush rehab."
In 2021, while playing for the Houston Astros, Bregman missed over two months of action due to a left quad strain.
The 31-year-old was off to a fantastic start in Boston after joining the Red Sox on a three-year, $120-million deal in February. Bregman owns a .299/.385/.553 slash line with 11 homers and 35 RBIs over 51 games this season. Defensively, his six defensive runs saved lead all qualified AL third basemen.
The Red Sox called up prized infield prospect Marcelo Mayer from Triple-A in response to Bregman's injury. Mayer arrived at Fenway Park Saturday afternoon and will play third base in his debut during the nightcap. Though a natural shortstop, he's played six games at third in the minors, four of which have come this season.
"We'll play him everywhere," Cora said of Mayer. "He can play second, he can play shortstop, he can play third."
Other options to man third in Bregman's absence besides Mayer include David Hamilton, Abraham Toro, and Nick Sogard. Cora also listed center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela as a possibility in emergency situations Friday, per Cerullo.
One player fans shouldn't expect to see at the hot corner is Rafael Devers. Cora said the slugger, who was forced off his longtime position and into full-time DH duties following Bregman's signing, won't be returning to third, according to The Athletic's Jen McCaffrey.
