After discussions about whether he could return to action this weekend, the Boston Red Sox activated outfielder Tyler O’Neill from the 10-day injured list on Saturday. O’Neill was unavailable due to a left leg infection that left him in the hospital for multiple days. To make room, infielder Nick Sogard was optioned to Triple-A Worcester. Sogard made his MLB debut on August 2.
The #RedSox today reinstated OF Tyler O’Neill from the 10-Day Injured List.
To make room on the active roster, the club optioned INF/OF Nick Sogard to Triple-A Worcester.
— Red Sox (@RedSox) August 17, 2024
Tyler O’Neill Returns for Red Sox, Nick Sogard Optioned
O’Neill landed on the IL on August 7, retroactive to August 4, due to the infection. His earliest return date was on Wednesday, but manager Alex Cora said that the slugger’s recovery was taking longer than expected. The club was initially unclear as to whether O’Neill could return for this weekend’s series with the Baltimore Orioles. His reinstatement comes just a day after first baseman Triston Casas came back to the Red Sox. Casas missed over three months due to a rib injury.
The infection was O’Neill’s third time on the injured list this season. He has been an integral part of Boston’s lineup. O’Neill has a .900 OPS with 22 home runs and 45 RBI in 80 contests. He had a strong month of July, batting .306 with six homers. O’Neill has hits in 12 of his last 17 games. He should return to the heart of the Red Sox order, joining third baseman Rafael Devers and Casas. The 29-year-old is in his seventh MLB campaign. O’Neill spent the first six seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals before joining Boston via trade in December.
TYLER O’NEILL!
Red Sox back 🔛🔝 pic.twitter.com/A2lNUMAL7J
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 28, 2024
Sogard exits his first MLB stint after appearing in 12 contests. The 26-year-old batted .227 with a double and six RBI with the Red Sox. Sogard joined the organization in 2021 in a deal that sent pitcher Jeffrey Springs to the Tampa Bay Rays. He recorded his first major league hit in his second career at-bat, which was a two-run single. Boston went 6-6 during Sogard’s appearances. Infielders Romy Gonzalez and David Hamilton will now split time at second base.
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