Red Sox Encouraged By Romy Gonzalez Rehab Debut originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Help is on the way for the beleaguered Boston Red Soxoffense. Infielder Romy Gonzalez began his rehab stint Tuesday with the Double-A Portland Sea Dog by hitting a two-run home run. Gonzalez finished the night 1-for-2 with two RBIs, one run scored and one walk in the 7-6 win over the Somerset Patriots.
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The 29-year-old infielder is working his way back from shoulder surgery in March.
Masslive.com's Christoper Smith reports Gonzalez will be back in the Portland lineup today as the designated hitter, followed by an off day Thursday.
But since Gonzalez began taking batting practice last week, Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy doesn't expect a long rehab stint.
“I don’t think it’s going to be like 50 (at-bats). We have a plan laid out for him to play a couple, take a day, play a couple more," Tracy said, per Smith.
“But it is also going to be based on ... communicating with him," Tracy added. "How do you feel. How does your body feel? How does the swing feel? How’s the timing feel?”
Tracy expects Gonzalez to get most of his reps in Portland at second base, but will see time at first base as well, setting him up to potentially spell slugger Willson Contreras in Boston.
According to Smith, if Gonzalez doesn't have any setbacks, he "likely" will play all three games this weekend.
“(T)hat basically gives him like five or six games over the course of the next eight days or so," Tracy said, according to Smith.
"And then we’ll kind of see again how he’s feeling each day and how he’s feeling after however many at-bats he’s accrued in that time," Tracy added.
In 96 games last season, Gonzalez set career highs with nine home runs and 53 RBIs. His .305 batting average and .826 OPS also were personal bests.
Gonzalez did most of his damage against left-handed pitchers, hitting .331 with seven home runs and an OPS of .978.
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