The Boston Red Sox outfield has been a revolving door of late, with key players sidelined by nagging injuries. Wilyer Abreu, the young right fielder who's shown real promise since his debut, has been out with a calf issue that cropped up in August. Indeed, manager Alex Cora noted progress just last week, suggesting Abreu could be back in the lineup soon—perhaps as early as this weekend's series against the Yankees. His bat, with that smooth lefty swing, has been missed; the Sox are averaging just under four runs per game without him fully healthy.
Rob Refsnyder, the veteran who's bounced around the majors for years, isn't far behind. He landed on the IL with a toe fracture back in mid-August, but recent updates paint a brighter picture. Refsnyder started light workouts last Monday, and the training staff is optimistic he'll rejoin the team by mid-October. It's frustrating, really—Refsnyder's been a steady presence off the bench, hitting .280 in limited action before the injury. Moreover, his experience could steady a clubhouse that's pushing for a wild-card spot as the season winds down.
However, these returns come at a critical juncture. The Red Sox sit three games back in the AL East, and with only a handful of games left, every at-bat counts. Abreu, at 26, brings speed and power—his 15 homers this year speak to that—while Refsnyder offers the kind of gritty reliability that's hard to quantify. Cora's been cagey about exact timelines, but the buzz in the dugout is positive. Still, baseball's unpredictable; one wrong step and they're back to square one.
Indeed, the front office is watching closely, balancing rehab with roster needs. For now, though, fans can hold out hope that these two will bolster an offense that's shown flashes but lacks consistency. What does this mean for Boston's playoff push? Only time, and a few key swings, will tell.