After reuniting with the Boston Red Sox at the trade deadline, left-hander James Paxton has been diagnosed with a potentially season-ending calf injury. On Sunday, Paxton limped off the field after injuring his lower leg while making a quick move to cover first base. He made a sharp turn off the mound on a ground ball from Yordan Alvarez down the first base line. He quickly glanced back at the mound before dropping to one knee and was helped off the field by the Red Sox training staff.
“I felt like I got kicked in the calf. Then, I kind of turned around, took another step and I felt it again,” Paxton said after the Astros completed a three-game sweep of the Red Sox. “I was like: ‘It’s not good. It’s my calf. I felt it pop.'”
Boston placed the 35-year-old left-hander on the 15-day injured list shortly after with a right calf strain. Paxton had an MRI on Monday and was diagnosed with a partially torn right calf muscle. Acknowledging his torn calf could sideline him for the remaining regular season, Paxton plans to rehab the injury and attempt to return before the season ends.
James Paxton has a partial tear of the right calf muscle. Timetable doesn’t look good to return this season, but Paxton is not ready to give up on the season.
— Sean McAdam (@Sean_McAdam) August 13, 2024
Red Sox Left-Hander James Paxton Suffers Potentially Season-Ending Calf Injury
“I’ve never had a calf [injury] before, first time,” Paxton said. “It hurts. I was feeling really good. I was looking forward to helping this team go where they want to go. Hopefully, I can come back at some point here before the end.”
Boston acquired Paxton in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers, hoping the southpaw could help stabilize an injury-depleted rotation. But now it’s likely the Red Sox will only get three starts from him this season. Paxton signed a one-year, $7 million contract with the Dodgers this past offseason. He made 18 starts for Los Angeles, recording a 4.43 ERA before being designated for assignment on July 22nd. The veteran lefty notched a 4.09 ERA in three starts for the Red Sox following the trade.
Paxton spent the 2022-23 seasons in Boston. He missed the full 2022 campaign after suffering a lat tear during his recovery from Tommy John surgery. Paxton returned in 2023, pitching 96 innings for Boston with a 4.50 ERA and strong strikeout and walk rates.
Red Sox righty Lucas Sims replaced Paxton, who threw just five pitches and recorded two outs. Boston will continue to rely on the quartet of Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford, Brayan Bello, and Nick Pivetta, with minimal depth behind them. Righties Cooper Criswell and Josh Winckowski could see more action down the stretch with Paxton possibly sidelined for the rest of the season.
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