{"id":77783,"date":"2024-06-25T13:52:47","date_gmt":"2024-06-25T17:52:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=77783"},"modified":"2024-06-25T13:52:47","modified_gmt":"2024-06-25T17:52:47","slug":"dominic-smith-helping-red-sox","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/06\/25\/dominic-smith-helping-red-sox\/","title":{"rendered":"Recent Free Agent Pickup is Helping the Injury Ridden Red Sox"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Boston Red Sox have dealt with a multitude of injuries thus far this season. Starting pitchers Garrett Whitlock<\/a> and Lucas Giolito<\/a> are out for the season<\/a>. Important rookies including Wilyer Abreu<\/a> have missed time<\/a>. High-paid piece Trevor Story<\/a> has barely seen the field. First baseman Triston Casas<\/a> hasn\u2019t played in over two months<\/a>. Boston, trying to plug many holes, has been forced to sign multiple players. Most of them haven\u2019t panned out but one infielder is doing his part. Recent pickup Dominic Smith<\/a> is helping bridge Boston’s injury gap at first base while Casas continues to rehab.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dominic Smith and Boston\u2019s First Base Dilemma<\/b><\/h2>\n

Smith began the year with the Tampa Bay Rays organization, playing for Triple-A Durham. After batting .263 in 21 games, Smith believed he was worth more than the minors. He was granted a release by the Rays on April 30. The next day, Smith signed as a free agent with the Red Sox in a time of need. Casas had strained his left rib on April 20 during a swing. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list a week later. Boston needed a first baseman bat fast. That came in the form of Smith and Garrett Cooper<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Both players split time at the position in the early days of Casas\u2019 absence. Cooper, like Smith, had recently been let go from another major league organization. He arrived in Boston after being traded for cash<\/a> from the Chicago Cubs. Cooper batted .270 in Chicago, which wasn\u2019t enough to keep him on the roster. The Red Sox hoped similar production would continue from the veteran.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That wasn\u2019t the case for Cooper though. Smith outperformed the 33-year-old while Cooper batted .171 with a .456 OPS. It didn\u2019t take long for Boston to give up on Cooper as he was designated for assignment on June 11. After finding no takers in the trade market, he was released three days later. That left Smith as really the only pure first baseman on the Red Sox roster. Since his release, Cooper has signed a minor-league deal with the Baltimore Orioles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dominic Smith Helping Bridge Boston\u2019s Injury Gap<\/b><\/h3>\n

Things weren\u2019t necessarily pretty to start for Smith once he made his Red Sox debut. He had four hits in his first four contests but then failed to record one in his next five. His average barely eclipsed .200 in late May before falling to .198 entering June. It seemed that Smith was more of a hole in the lineup like Cooper was before his release. Smith ended May with an OPS below .600. There were a few bright spots, but nothing to get the front office up on its feet.<\/span><\/p>\n

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#RedSox<\/a> Dominic Smith has batted .294 over his last 18 games since May 31. Has 10 RBI over that span.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Red Sox Nation Stats (@RSNStats) June 25, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n