Boston Red Sox Lose Starting Shortstop to Broken Hamate Bone

Boston Red Sox shortstop Yu Chang left Monday's loss against the Baltimore Orioles on Monday night after experiencing discomfort from a swing. Now, we know that Chang is headed to the injured list with a broken hamate bone. The team has recalled Emmanuel Valdez in his place.

The Boston Red Sox lost much more than a game on Monday night.

The Sox lost to the Orioles, 5-4, but also lost starting shortstop Yu Chang. He's been placed on the injured list with a broken hamate bone. The broken bond is on his left hand. 

Red Sox Place Yu Chang On IL With Hamate Fracture https://t.co/92YBkFzOKb pic.twitter.com/ediheyZYw7

— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) April 25, 2023

The loss is a significant one for the Red Sox (12-12) for multiple reasons. First, Chang had been playing pretty well lately, especially defensively. Pete Abraham had this nugget on Twitter:

"Yu Chang has a left hamate fracture is on the IL. Valdez was recalled. Chang was +2 DRS in only 91 innings at shortstop and starting to hit. Terrible timing for him."

Yu Chang has a left hamate fracture and is on the IL. Valdez was recalled.

Chang was +2 DRS in only 91 innings at shortstop and starting to hit. Terrible timing for him.

— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) April 25, 2023

It certainly is terrible timing for Chang, who was getting a chance to play everyday shortstop. The original plan for the Red Sox was to have Enrique Hernandez play shortstop, but he has had to bounce around the field given an injury to Adam Duvall and the resulting shuffling.

Chang has had multiple big hits lately for the Sox. He hit a go-ahead home run against the Angels and homered against the Twins the day after his daughter was born. He's only hitting .136 but has three homers and eight RBI.

For his career, he's a lifetime .206 hitter with 17 homers. 

The 27-year-old Chang is in his fifth year in the major leagues. He's well traveled, too. He spent the first three years of his career with the Cleveland Guardians but played for four teams in 2022: Cleveland, the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston.

Chang was also named the MVP of Pool A at the World Baseball Classic. He played for Chinese Taipei alongside Cuba, The Kingdom of the Netherlands, Italy and Panama. 

As for Valdez, he was part of the trade that sent Christian Vazquez to Houston last July. He made his major league debut earlier this year, going 2-4 in one game against the Twins.

The Red Sox take on the Orioles tonight at 6:35 p.m.

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