Boston Red Sox' Projected Starter Dealing with Calf Injury, Won't Travel to Dominican Republic
New Boston Red Sox' left fielder Tyler O'Neill is nursing a left calf issue and will not travel to the Dominican Republic with the team this weekend.
Boston is set to head to the Dominican this weekend to take on the Tampa Bay Rays.
Per Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe:
Tyler O’Neill (left calf) not going to the DR. RHP Zack Kelly (left oblique) temporarily shut down.
The good news for the Red Sox is that Abraham says O'Neill should be good to come back to the lineup by Monday once the team returns back to the United States.
O'Neill was acquired this winter in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals and figures to flank centerfielder Jarren Duran in the Sox' outfield.
The 28-year-old O'Neill is headed into the seventh year of his major league career. He debuted in 2018 for the Cardinals and became a regular during the COVID 2020 season.
Armed with massive power at the plate, O'Neill hit 34 homers and drove in 80 runs during the 2021 season for St. Louis. However, he's struggled to stay healthy and productive over the last two years, playing just 96 and 72 games respectively. He hit just .228 in 2022 and .231 in 2023.
No matter what he does at the plate, O'Neill should help the Red Sox defense immensely. He's a two-time Gold Glover and he will be replacing Masataka Yoshida in left field - who figures to see the bulk of his time at designated hitter.
The Red Sox open the season March 28 at the Seattle Mariners.
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