The Red Sox have been in the news more than they’d like lately. It’s not the fact that they’ve been in the news so much this season and last, it’s the reasons why. Controversy in the clubhouse, calling out players, issues with former management members, etc. Despite all the often negative attention, the Red Sox are just 6.5 games back of the Yankees for first in the American League East, and they should get a boost soon from Jacoby Ellsbury.
According to Gordon Edes of ESPN Boston, Ellsbury will begin a rehab assignment Friday. He will report to
Fort Myers, FL and begin playing in live games for the first time since hitting the disabled list on April 14th. As long as all goes well, Boston could see him return to the lineup shortly after the All-Star break.
Ellsbury suffered a partially dislocated right shoulder after attempting a take-out slide at second base. The Tampa Bay Rays’ Reid Brignac came down on Ellsbury’s shoulder.
Ellsbury only played seven games before hitting the DL this season. He was hitting .192/.300/.269. However, last season Ellsbury hit .321/.376/.552 with 32 home runs. He was second in American League MVP voting in 2011.
The 28-year old center fielder is in his sixth Major League season. He’s hit .299/.354/.450 in his career. The Red Sox have yet to lock him into a long-term deal, but he is still under team control until 2014. He recently earned a large pay increase in his second year of arbitration eligibility thanks to his 2011 season. In 2011, Ellsbury made $2.4 million. This season, he is making a little over $8 million.
When Ellsbury returns to the lineup, the Red Sox should get an immediate boost. He’s a fan-favorite in Boston and he’s a well-liked player in the clubhouse. The team has lost most of their leaders over the last few months. Tim Wakefield and Jason Varitek retired, and Kevin Youkilis has been traded. The Sox need Ellsbury to return and provide some stability and some offense.
For more on the Red Sox, be sure to check out BoSox Injection.