Kiner-Falefa Injured List
Red Sox place Isiah Kiner-Falefa on injured list with left forearm inflammation.
The Boston Red Sox placed utility infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa on the 10-day injured list on June 20 with left forearm inflammation, according to Associated Press. The move is retroactive to June 19, when the Red Sox scratched him from the starting lineup just 30 minutes before a series opener against the Seattle Mariners.
Kiner-Falefa had been one of Boston's steadiest hitters, slashing .277/.344/.401 over 47 games this season, per NBC Sports. His last at-bat was a solo home run against Toronto on June 18. The Red Sox recalled infielder Anthony Seigler from Triple-A Worcester to fill his roster spot.
Forearm Soreness Flared Up on Cross-Country Flight
Kiner-Falefa had been managing forearm soreness for weeks, per MLB.com. The long flight from Boston to Seattle made it worse. The Red Sox removed him from the lineup about 30 minutes before the June 19 game. The next morning, he underwent an MRI in Seattle to check the extent of the damage.
Kiner-Falefa downplayed the injury before the MRI results came in. He told the Boston Globe he "doesn't believe it to be a big deal" and that the flight had aggravated existing soreness, according to Sports Illustrated. Results from the scan helped drive the team's decision to put him on the IL that afternoon.
Red Sox Infield Already Thin Before This Setback
Boston's roster was stretched well before this move. Trevor Story is on the 60-day IL with a sports hernia. Garrett Crochet, the team's top starting pitcher, has been out since early June with shoulder inflammation. Outfielder Roman Anthony is sidelined with a partially torn tendon in his right ring finger, per MLB.com.
The team now has seven players on the injured list in some form. Interim manager Chad Tracy, who took over after Alex Cora was fired following a 10–17 start, said the team had to "mix around the lineup a couple times" on June 19 due to both Kiner-Falefa's arm and shortstop Marcelo Mayer dealing with an illness, according to Associated Press.
Kiner-Falefa Was the Glue of Boston's Young Infield
The Red Sox signed Kiner-Falefa in February to a one-year, $6 million deal. The team wanted a veteran who could play second base, third base, and shortstop. That flexibility let Tracy move players around freely. NBC Sports analyst Matthew Pouliot called his loss "actually a pretty significant" one for a lineup that has struggled to produce runs.
His contract also includes up to $500,000 in performance bonuses tied to plate appearance milestones — $100,000 for every 50 plate appearances from 300 to 500. An extended IL stint could cost him those bonuses, per Associated Press.
Trade Deadline Talks Could Heat Up If MRI Shows Worse Damage
Boston's record stands at 30–43, putting the team 6.5 games back of a Wild Card spot, per Sports Illustrated. Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow is already said to be "in the market" for infield upgrades before the trade deadline. Names like Washington's CJ Abrams and Chicago's Nico Hoerner have surfaced in early rumors.
If the MRI reveals structural damage — like a ligament tear — Breslow may need to move faster. With Mayer now playing shortstop full-time, Anthony Seigler and Andruw Monasterio will battle for starts at second and third base, according to NBC Sports.
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