Red Sox Outfielder Set To Miss Opening Day Roster After Suffering Fractured Bone

A top prospect appears to be in line to take his place

Scott Neville | Mar 13, 2024

Red Sox Outfielder Set To Miss Opening Day Roster After Suffering Fractured Bone /

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Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox received some unfortunate injury news that could shake up the roster-building process just a few weeks away from Opening Day.

One of the bigger battles in camp for Red Sox manager Alex Cora to sort out has been the outfield group -- which just got one man shorter for the time being.

Boston entered spring training with Masataka Yoshida, Jarren Duran, Tyler O'Neill, Wilyer Abreu, Rob Refsnyder and Ceddanne Rafaela competing for roster spots. We now know one of those outfielders will not be available to start the season.

"Fractured left toe confirmed for Rob Refsnyder," MLB.com's Ian Browne reported Wednesday.

Refsnyder entered Boston's spring training matchup with St. Louis in the fifth inning on Tuesday and was immediately drilled in the foot by Cardinals southpaw Connor Thomas.

The 32-year-old remained in the game to run the bases and through the sixth inning before exiting and later telling reporters he had a "crack" in his toe.

The injury could haunt the Red Sox against left-handed pitching -- Refsnyder's area of expertise on a left-handed leaning lineup.

However, it also opens the door wide open for Rafaela to win a job in the outfield. Cora said it's up to him to earn his way onto the roster and so far, it's hard to argue against the top prospect making the team.

The 23-year-old is hitting .242 (8-for-33) with five extra-base hits including three home runs, seven RBIs and a .900 OPS in 13 spring training games.

Cora has named Yoshida the primary designated hitter. That would leave an exciting and athletic outfield consisting of Duran in left field, Rafaela in center field, O'Neill in right field and Abreu either platooning in right field or coming off the bench for both corners.

Refsnyder plays a key role on the roster but fortunately for Boston, he should not be out long and the outfield depth is much stronger than in years past.

More MLB: Red Sox Shockingly Release Prospect Acquired In Andrew Benintendi Trade

Published Mar 13, 2024

SCOTT NEVILLE

Scott Neville covers the Boston Red Sox for Sports Illustrated's new page "Inside The Red Sox." Before starting "Inside The Red Sox", Neville attended Merrimack College, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Media with a minor in Marketing. Neville spent all four years with Merrimack's radio station WMCK, where he grew as a radio/podcast host and producer. His propensity for being in front of a microphone eventually expanded to film, where he produced multiple short films alongside his then-roommate and current co-worker Stephen Mottram. On a journey that began as a way to receive easy credits via film classes, he received a call from "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" star Charlie Day. Day advised him to make a feature-length film, which he completed his senior year. While writing the film, Neville completed an internship for United Way as part of their NFL Partnership Program. Neville ran the blog for a team of interns and hosted an internet show called "United Way's NFL Partnership Series" where he interviewed NFL alumni. After college Neville wrote for SB Nation's "Over The Monster," a Red Sox sister site of the flagship brand. His work would eventually lead him to a job as a content producer with NESN, where he would cover all sports. After developing as a writer with the top regional network in the world, he was given the opportunity to join the Sports Illustrated Media Group in his current endeavor as the publisher of "Inside The Red Sox." The successful launch and quick rise of "Inside The Red Sox" led to Neville joining the Baseball Essential ownership group, a national baseball site under SIMG. Follow him on Twitter: @ScottNeville46 Email: nevilles@merrimack.edu