Updating Injured Red Sox's Romy Gonzalez, Patrick Sandoval WooSox Rehab

Updating Injured Red Sox’s Romy Gonzalez, Patrick Sandoval WooSox Rehab originally appeared on NESN.
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Slow and steady wins the race. At least that’s what the Boston Red Sox are hoping with a pair of injured players on rehab assignments with Triple-A Worcester.

Infielder Romy Gonzalez returned to the WooSox lineup Tuesday as the designated hitter and went 1-for-4 with a strikeout from the two-hole in Worcester’s 4-1 loss to the Toledo Mud Hens. Boston shut down Gonzalez for a week after complaining of hip discomfort.

Before Tuesday’s game, the 29-year-old utility man said he hopes to be back with the Red Sox by Saturday for the third game of a four-game set with the first-place New York Yankees.

“We’ll see what happens. Definitely, I want to be (there) Sunday with (Carlos) Rodón going Sunday. I want to be in the lineup,” Gonzalez said, according to Masslive.com’s Chris Cotillo.

Gonzalez started the season on the injured list while recovering from shoulder surgery. 

In 96 games last season, Gonzalez set career highs with nine home runs and 53 RBIs. His .305 batting average and .826 OPS also were personal bests.

Gonzalez did most of his damage against left-handed pitchers, hitting .331 with seven home runs and an OPS of .978.

It’s been a long road back for Sandoval, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery and hasn’t touched a big-league mound in two years.

Sandoval started Tuesday for the WooSox, and went 3.1 innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits with one walk and one strikeout. He took the loss for Worcester, throwing 53 pitches (34 for strikes).

It was Sandoval’s fifth rehab start for the WooSox. He also made one start last week for Double-A Portland.

MLB.com’s Ian Browne reports Sandoval is scheduled to take the mound Sunday for Worcester.

Boston signed Sandoval to a two-year, $18.25 million contract in December of 2024.

He had hoped to make his Boston debut this spring but suffered a setback in April during a rehab start with Triple-A Worcester when he experienced left bicep tightness.

In six MLB seasons, Sandoval is 19-45 with a 4.01 ERA in 107 games (100 starts).

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