The Boston Red Sox have been grappling with outfield depth issues all season, and now there's a glimmer of hope as Rob Refsnyder and Wilyer Abreu edge closer to returning from their respective injuries. Refsnyder, the veteran right fielder, landed on the injured list back in August with a nagging hamstring strain that sidelined him during a crucial stretch against the Yankees. It was frustrating, really—Boston's offense sputtered without his steady bat, posting just a .245 team average in the outfield spots during his absence.
However, recent updates from the clubhouse suggest Refsnyder could be back in action as early as this week, assuming no setbacks in his rehab. Manager Alex Cora mentioned during Monday's presser that Refsnyder's been taking swings and running the bases without pain, a positive sign after weeks of cautious progress. Indeed, his return would add that much-needed pop to the lineup; last year, he slugged .450 with six homers in limited play, proving his value beyond the numbers.
Wilyer Abreu, the young star who dazzled with a Gold Glove in right field last season, has faced his own hurdles. A right calf tightness pulled him out in mid-August, and follow-up exams revealed it was more serious than initially thought—stretching his IL stint into September. Abreu tried to push through early, but Cora wisely shut him down to avoid a longer-term issue. Now, after some light fieldwork over the weekend, he's ramping up, with team trainers optimistic about a activation soon. His early 2025 stats were electric—.280 average, 18 homers—before the injury derailed what looked like an All-Star path.
Moreover, the timing couldn't be better for the Red Sox, who sit just two games out in the wild-card race with October looming. Both players' returns could shore up a defense that's leaked runs and inject life into an offense averaging under four runs per game lately. Yet, as Cora cautioned, these things can twist unexpectedly in baseball. Still, if Refsnyder and Abreu slot back in seamlessly, it might just tip the scales for Boston's postseason push.
One wonders how different the standings might look if the outfield had stayed healthy all along.