David Ross Out With Second Concussion, Sent Home Until July
By Aaron Somers
Backup catcher David Ross will miss an undetermined amount of time as he’s reportedly suffered his second concussion. (Image Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports)
Caution is the name of the game in Boston at the moment, as the Red Sox will take every step necessary to ensure that David Ross doesn’t return to the team until he’s been cleared to resume baseball activities. The 36 year old backup catcher has been sidelined thanks to what concussion specialist Dr. Michael Collins has confirmed is a second concussion. He’s been ordered to return home to Florida until his next appointment with doctors which isn’t scheduled until the first full week of July.
Ross is believed to have suffered the concussion on June 14th, when he took a foul tip off his helmet during a game against the Baltimore Orioles. Ross was placed on the 7-day consussion DL the next day.
Manager John Farrell made it clear that the team will give Ross whatever time he needs (via Ian Browne at MLB.com):
"The results were evident in those tests. The recommendation by Dr. Collins was to basically shut down for a period of time here. So he’s going to be away from the team. He’ll return home to Tallahassee until his next scheduled appointment with Dr. Collins, which is the first week of July.So the thing we have to be really cautious with here, it’s the second time he’s suffered one. That will take some additional time to get over his symptoms. There’s no timetable on his return. The only timetable we have is on that next appointment and where he’ll be until then."
Ross signed a two year, $6.2 Million deal to join the Red Sox this past offseason with the full knowledge that he’d likely be filling the team’s backup catcher role. He’s appeared in just 23 games for the team on the year, batting .185/.274/.400 in 75 PA. It remains to be seen just how long he’ll be out of action once he is evaluated again. Ryan Lavarnway will continue to receive at bats as the team’s backup catcher in the interim.