Outfield isn't keeping Hanley Ramirez healthier

Alec Brzezinski

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Outfield isn't keeping Hanley Ramirez healthier image

The Hanley Ramirez-in-left-field project may need to come to an end.

Ramirez suffered a left shoulder sprain after he collided with the padded wall along the left-field line at Fenway Park on Monday against the Rays. He was chasing a James Loney fly ball in the first inning. Ramirez walked off the field with a trainer nursing his left arm. Allen Craig replaced Ramirez.

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UPDATE: Ramirez tweeted his condition after the game:

UPDATE 2: According to the Providence Journal, Red Sox manager John Farrell said Ramirez was day to day and might not need to go on the disabled list.

The Red Sox signed the oft-injured Ramirez — who played exclusively at shortstop and third base before this year — in the offseason and moved him to the outfield. This latest injury (he has had shoulder problems in the past) could prompt the team to make a move to better protect their $88 million investment.

Finding a spot on the infield could be difficult, though. Boston is flush with talent there: It has two young shortstops in Xander Bogaerts and prospect Deven Marrero. Fellow offseason signee Pablo Sandoval is set at third base and prospect Garin Cecchini is in the wings at Triple-A. Mike Napoli and Dustin Pedroia are set at first and second base, respectively. The Sox could, in theory, deal Napoli (a pending free agent), shift Sandoval to first and place Ramirez back at third.

The team has not indicated any changes are being considered.

Ramirez has been noticeably uncomfortable in his new position. He has been charged with just one error, but he ranks last in baseball (per Fangraphs.com) with minus-6 defensive runs saved.

At the plate, Ramirez boasts a sterling .283/.340/.609 line with a 10 home runs and 22 RBIs through 25 games.

Alec Brzezinski