The Boston Red Sox just swept the Yankees in New York, which is nice and all. But that four-game win streak doesn’t undo the fact they blew two winnable games against the Rockies last week or that this season has been a slog from the jump. The standings are ugly. The vibes have been worse. But the injury report is actually not completely terrible right now.
According to MLB.com, three players are close to coming back: Romy Gonzalez, Jovani Moran and Nick Sogard. None of them are household names. That’s sort of the point. This team needs functional bodies who can do their jobs without making things worse.
Romy Gonzalez could debut Sunday against New York
Gonzalez hasn’t played all year. Shoulder and hip flexor issues kept him out through spring training and into the regular season. But the 29-year-old utility man is expected to be activated for Sunday’s series finale against the Yankees, per the report. That’s a big deal for a middle infield that’s been held together with tape. Trevor Story is out. Marcelo Mayer is out. Gonzalez hit .305 with an .826 OPS last season and was a legit contributor on Boston’s 2025 playoff team. He can play second, short, third and probably sell hot dogs if they asked him. Versatility matters when your infield depth chart looks like a MASH unit.
Jovani Moran adds a lefty arm to a tired bullpen
Moran threw a scoreless inning for Triple-A Worcester on Thursday with two strikeouts. That’s encouraging for a guy who’s been sidelined since June 4 with elbow inflammation. The lefty has a 3.00 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 33 innings this season. The Red Sox bullpen has been a problem. The starters keep giving them leads and the relievers keep giving them back. Moran can’t fix everything, but he’s a reliable left-handed option who gets swings and misses. He could rejoin the big league club for Monday’s home series against the Nationals.
Nick Sogard provides a different kind of help
Beyond late-inning stability, Boston needs guys who can just get on base. Sogard is 9-for-35 with two doubles, a triple and five walks this season. That’s not a huge sample, but it’s better than what they’ve been running out there. The former 12th-round pick can move around the diamond too — second, third, short, outfield if you squint. He’s expected to start a rehab assignment soon. The report suggests big-league opportunities are coming.
The Red Sox are 34-46 and sitting seven teams back in the Wild Card race. Garrett Crochet and Roman Anthony are still a ways off from returning. There’s no magic wand coming. But getting three useful players back in the next week or two makes things a little less bleak. Maybe even watchable again.
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