The Boston Red Sox placed utility infielder Romy Gonzalez on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a left quad contusion, which further taxes the team’s depth at first base.
Gonzalez had been part of the platoon filling the shoes of Triston Casas, who ruptured the patellar tendon in his left knee on May 2 and underwent season-ending surgery.
The 28-year-old Gonzalez subbed for Casas on May 2 and then made three starts at first in Casas’ stead. During that span, Gonzalez went 5-for-12 with one double, two runs, two RBIs and two stolen bases.
Though Gonzalez is out of the first-base mix until at least May 17, the Red Sox indicated they don’t intend to shift Rafael Devers there. Devers drew widespread attention Thursday when he declared he wouldn’t move to first after already shifting from third base to designated hitter during the preseason because of the arrival of Gold Glove third baseman Alex Bregman.
“After what happened to Casas,” Devers told reporters via an interpreter, “they came to me and I know that I am a player, but I can’t play all the positions, either. I can’t adapt like any other player to a different position. If I play first, they know that I won’t play there (immediately).”
Devers’ thoughts inspired Red Sox owner John Henry, along with general manager Craig Breslow, to visit the team in Kansas City for a meeting with the 28-year-old slugger. Red Sox manager Alex Cora has suggested conversations about a Devers move will continue.
In the meantime, Boston replaced Gonzalez on the active roster with switch-hitting utility infielder Nick Sogard, who was recalled from Triple-A Worcester. Though the 27-year-old had just one inning of major-league experience at first base — that coming in the 10th inning last Sept. 12 against the New York Yankees — the Red Sox put him in the starting lineup Saturday night against Kansas City left-hander Cole Ragans.
Sogard committed a throwing error in the seventh that did not lead to any runs. He also went 1-for-4 with a walk and one run scored as the Red Sox rolled to a 10-1 victory. He is expected to split time at first base with utility player Abraham Toro.
