Red Sox’s Rafael Devers to get MRI; Tyler O’Neill to IL
The Boston Red Sox continue to battle injury woes, with third baseman Rafael Devers dealing with a bone bruise in his left knee and outfielder Tyler O’Neill going on the injury list after the two collided during Monday’s game.
Devers, a two-time All-Star, underwent an MRI on Thursday. He left Tuesday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians with knee discomfort and served as designated hitter during Wednesday’s game, going hitless in four at-bats with three strikeouts.
“Just to make sure nothing is structurally wrong,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said of Devers getting an MRI. “He didn’t feel great … wasn’t able to stand on his leg. Let’s do (the MRI) so we know for peace of mind.”
Cora said Devers isn’t expected to go on the injured list.
O’Neill suffered a cut on his forehead that required eight stitches to close after his collision with Devers on Monday. He cleared concussion protocol but hadn’t played since. The move to the seven-day IL is retroactive to Tuesday.
Devers is batting just .188 with 2 homers and 5 RBIs through 13 games this season.
Pablo Reyes started at third base and batted seventh in Thursday’s matinee vs. the Guardians at Fenway Park.
In a related move, the Red Sox activated outfielder Rob Refsnyder from the injured list to take O’Neill’s roster spot. Refsnyder had been on the IL with a fractured left toe since March 25.
O’Neill is hitting .313 with a team-leading seven home runs this season.
Boston, which put pitcher Garrett Whitlock on the IL with a left oblique strain Wednesday, begins a six-game road trip at Pittsburgh on Friday.
Field Level Media and The Associated Press contributed to this report.