The Red Sox announced that utilityman Romy Gonzalez was reinstated from the 60-day injured list, and Gonzalez will make his season debut as the DH in tonight’s lineup against the Yankees. In corresponding moves, Boston optioned catcher Mickey Gasper to Triple-A, and moved outfielder Roman Anthony from the 10-day IL to the 60-day IL.
Now in his third season in Boston, Gonzalez has been a very productive part-time player due to his ability to mash left-handed pitching. Gonzalez hit .317/.370/.561 in 273 plate appearances against southpaws during the 2024-25 seasons, translating to a 153 wRC+ that was the ninth-best of any qualified hitter in baseball against southpaws in this two-year span. When Triston Casas spent most of the 2025 season on the injured list, Gonzalez and Abraham Toro joined forces to create a very solid first base platoon, keeping the Sox in pretty good shape at the position.
This year, however, Gonzalez was beset by left shoulder problems in Spring Training that led to an arthroscopic debridement surgery in March. His rehab stint was slightly delayed by some hip tightness, but he’ll now rejoin a Boston team that needs all the help its can get on the infield front.
Willson Contreras has the first base position now locked down, but Gonzalez figures to get plenty of at-bats all over the diamond. Most of Gonzalez’s MLB playing time has come at second base, but Gonzalez has at least a little experience as a third baseman, shortstop, and at all three outfield positions in addition to his time at first base. Interim manager Chad Tracy figures to have Gonzalez somewhere in the starting lineup whenever the Red Sox face a left-handed starter, and he’ll be a key bat off the bench in pinch-hitting situations.
Anthony’s stint on the 10-day IL began on May 5, so he is already close to the 60-day mark and his timeline won’t be impacted. The partially torn tendon in Anthony’s right ring finger is still causing discomfort when he has attempted to take swings during his recovery process, so it remains unclear as to when Anthony will be ready to even ramp up his rehab work, let alone return to Boston’s lineup.
