Pablo Sandoval Placed On 15-Day DL, Replaced By Josh Rutledge
BOSTON (CBS) -- Pablo Sandoval hasn't seen much of the field this season, and he's now getting an extended break.
John Farrell announced Wednesday that Sandoval has been placed on the 15-day disabled list due to a shoulder strain. Josh Rutledge will be called up to replace him on the roster.
Now, exactly how Sandoval sustained such an injury remains somewhat mysterious, as the third baseman has not played much at all so far this season. He has just seven total plate appearances and 11 innings in the field through the team's first seven games, and he hasn't played at all in the Red Sox' two games thus far at Fenway Park this week.
"He reported today with a left shoulder strain," Farrell said of Sandoval. "To give you an exact moment when it took place, I don't have that to be honest. He's been hitting a lot extra, before BP and during the game in the cage. He's got very limited range of motion that was revealed after he went through a battery of tests with the medical staff. So he's unavailable."
Still, despite barely using Sandoval at all through seven games, the manager expressed confidence in the third baseman.
"It's been a real tough start, and he's been an easy target," Farrell said. "I still firmly believe that Panda is going to be a contributor to this team. We're going to need him to be, because there's a darn good player in there, and we've got to continue to work to get that out."
Rutledge joined the Red Sox as the return in the trade of Shane Victorino to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim last July. In 39 games with the Red Sox, Rutledge batted .284 while playing second base and third base.