The Boston Red Sox have placed outfielder Tyler O’Neill on the 10-day injured list with right knee inflammation. The move is retroactive to May 26th.
The #RedSox today placed OF Tyler O’Neill on the 10-Day Injured List, retroactive to May 26, with right knee inflammation.
To fill O’Neill’s spot on the active roster, the club recalled INF Enmanuel Valdez from Triple-A Worcester.
— Red Sox (@RedSox) May 29, 2024
In his first year in Boston, O’Neill was a crucial part of the team’s outfield after the departure of Alex Verdugo. The 28-year-old outfielder has batted .236 with a team-leading 11 home runs and 17 RBI in 41 games this season. After seven innings, he was taken out of Saturday’s game against the Brewers because of right knee soreness. After missing the last three games, O’Neill was sent back to Boston on Wednesday to undergo imaging of his knee.
Despite the setback, the Red Sox remain optimistic about O’Neill’s recovery. “We feel like he should be fine,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “But we want to make sure. [The medical team] feels he’s not making strides or feeling better. But they feel like he should be OK. Nothing too serious, and we’ll go from there.”
O’Neill is no stranger to the injured list, playing in a combined 168 games with the Cardinals between 2022 and 2023. Since returning from a concussion that landed him on the seven-day injured list last month, O’Neill is batting just .200 with 45 strikeouts in 100 at-bats. He is 11-for-73 (.151) with 36 strikeouts in May.
Red Sox Place Outfielder Tyler O’Neill on the Injured List
To fill Tyler O’Neill’s spot on the active roster, the Red Sox have recalled infielder Enmanuel Valdez from Triple-A Worcester. The 25-year-old infielder joined the Red Sox in Baltimore as a Boston’s taxi squad member before being officially recalled. Valdez has played in 28 for the Red Sox this season, batting .156 and having two home runs. He has slashed .230/.360/.527 with six home runs and three stolen bases in 20 games with Triple-A Worcester. Valdez has made 26 starts at second base for Boston and has played both first and third base for Worcester.
Looking ahead, the Red Sox have a busy schedule. After finishing their series in Baltimore on Wednesday night, they have a quick turnaround. The team will take on the Detroit Tigers for a four-game series at Fenway Park, starting on Thursday.
The Red Sox have plenty of outfield options to fill O’Neill’s spot, including Wilyer Abreu, Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Rob Refsnyder—all currently on the roster.
Main Photo Credits: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
