CINCINNATI — The Red Sox’ 26-man roster no longer includes an obvious first base option vs. left-handed starters now that both right-handed hitters Bobby Dalbec and Garrett Cooper are gone.
Boston optioned Dalbec to Triple-A Worcester on Saturday to make room for Wilyer Abreu (activated off the IL). Cooper was released earlier this month after batting just .171 in 75 plate appearances.
Who will platoon at first base with left-handed hitting Dom Smith?
Manager Alex Cora brought up catcher Connor Wong as a potential first base option against lefties.
“Maybe a few ground balls for Wong at first and see how he looks and how he feels if we want to go that route,” Cora said. “But we feel comfortable where we’re at with the roster.”
Wong has logged six innings at first base, 19 innings at second base and one inning at third base as a big leaguer. All six innings at first base came this year. He entered in the fifth inning and played four innings there in a game at Cleveland on April 25.
He also played first base in the bottom of the eighth inning April 23 at Cleveland and in the top of the ninth against the Cubs at home April 27.
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Utility man Romy Gonzalez was the first name Cora mentioned as a right-handed hitting first base option.
“Romy might play first,” Cora said. “A lefty (hitter) is going to play in the infield. So we’re going to pick and choose the at-bat that we like against that certain lefty and I mean (choose) from Hammy (David Hamilton), Valdey (Enmanuel Valdez) and Dom. I think we’re very left-handed but they’re really good at what they do. And Romy, he’s good against lefties. We’ve got Ref.”
Rob Refsnyder, a right-handed hitting outfielder, did start one game at first base on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester earlier this year. He also played first base in the majors earlier in his career but hasn’t done it since 2020.
Asked if Refsnyder is an option at first base, Cora replied, “Nah, nah. We’ll keep him in the outfield.”
