CINCINNATI — Outfielder Wilyer Abreu is here with the Red Sox Friday but he won’t be activated until Saturday.
“He’s probably going to be active tomorrow,” manager Alex Cora said.
Abreu has been on the 10-day injured list since June 4 with a sprained right ankle.
The corresponding move to activate Abreu is unclear as of right now. Right-handed hitting outfielder Rob Refsnyder is dealing with right knee soreness but Cora said the injury is not believed to be serious.
Abreu is ready to go Saturday.
“It feels great to be back,” Abreu said through translator Carlos Villoria Benítez in Boston’s clubhouse Friday. “It’s been a few weeks but I’m happy to be back.”
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Abreu has emerged as an AL Rookie of the Year candidate. The 24-year-old is batting .272 with a .344 on-base percentage, .485 slugging percentage, .829 OPS, six homers, 14 doubles, two triples, 22 RBIs, 26 runs, seven steals, 19 walks and 49 strikeouts in 53 games (189 plate appearances).
He went 3-for-12 with two homers, three runs, two RBIs, one walk and three strikeouts in three rehab games for Triple-A Worcester.
“I feel very good at the plate,” Abreu said. “Hopefully it doesn’t take long to get back to the form I was before the injury. So I hope everything goes well.”
Abreu said he focused on having quality at-bats with Worcester.
“And then trying to get my timing back,” he said. “For me, it was a very good three games.”
