Red Sox
Bregman has been sidelined since May 23 due to a right quad strain.
Alex Bregman’s return to the Red Sox from his right quad strain isn’t imminent, but he’s hopeful that it won’t sideline him for too much longer.
The Red Sox third baseman believes he might be back before the All-Star break begins on July 14 after his ultrasound on Wednesday showed encouraging results.
“[It] showed that it was doing really well and healing the way we wanted it to,” Bregman told reporters. “So just continue the progression of getting stronger and picking up the running volume. It’s moving in the right direction.”
In fact, Bregman’s quad is healing well enough that he thinks he might not have to go on a rehab stint in the minors before making his return to the majors.
“I don’t think [minor league games will be necessary], but we’ll see. You never know,” Bregman said. “Maybe it’s one of those things where it’s like, go play a few innings. It might be straight back, it might be whatever they recommend. See where we go.
“It’s healing quickly. All things are going in the right direction.”
When Bregman suffered the strain on May 23, it was feared that the injury would keep him out for at least two months. The 31-year-old missed over two months due to a similar injury when he was with the Astros in 2021.
“This one’s been healing much faster, which is maybe not what I would have predicted at the beginning, but it has been,” Bregman said.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora provided a similar update when he met with reporters last week, but he cautioned that Bregman was still a bit away from making his return to the ball club. Now, Cora also thinks that Bregman might be able to avoid a rehab stint.
“We have ways for him to get at-bats here,” Cora said on Friday. “His at-bats will not change. Obviously, timing will be a little bit off, but we’ll get there when we get there.”
Before Bregman gets back to hitting at a major league level, his rehab focus has been strengthening his leg through running and agility drills. He told reporters that he’s been working 12 hours a day to help rehab the leg, posting a video to his Instagram of part of his rehab routine on Friday.
“The biggest thing is building running volume and running capacity, to where I can be able to withstand going 4 for 4 with two doubles off the wall that I gotta get to second on,” Bregman said. “Once I build up to that running volume and that capacity, I’ll be ready to go.”
Bregman’s return to the lineup will certainly be welcomed news to the Red Sox whenever it happens. While Boston is fifth in the league in runs and in the top 10 in many other hitting stats, Bregman was the team’s best hitter before his injury. He hit .299 with 11 home runs, 35 RBIs, and a .938 OPS in his first two months with the Red Sox.
As everyone with the Red Sox might be anxious to get Bregman back on the field, though, Cora is continuing to plead patience.
“He’s in a good spot mentally,” Cora said. “He’s made some progress, but I don’t want to jump the gun and start thinking ahead. I’ve been patient throughout the process, and I’ll stay the same way.”
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