Hamilton placed on IL with left index finger fracture
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BOSTON -- David Hamilton knew something was wrong right away.
Trying to lay down a bunt in the eighth inning of Wednesday’s victory over the Blue Jays, Hamilton had a fastball ride up and in on him. He couldn’t get his bat completely above the pitch, but he got the bunt down. However, the ball also ticked off his left index finger.
On Thursday, the Red Sox placed him on the 10-day injured list with a fractured left index finger.
“Went to bunt, it was a little up and in, tried to get the bunt down but it got my finger, too,” he explained before Thursday’s series finale against the Blue Jays. “At first, I knew something was wrong because I couldn’t feel my finger. It was hurting, too.”
Boston recalled infielder Nick Sogard from Triple-A Worcester to take his place. Hamilton said he could be out 4-6 weeks.
“They said it’s really just pain tolerance after a while,” he said. “Hopefully, it’s a little bit quicker than that.”
The timing of Hamilton’s injury isn’t great for a Red Sox infield that’s trying to get through a tough stretch without star third baseman Rafael Devers, who’s missed three straight games with sore shoulders that have bothered him most of the season.
Manager Alex Cora said with the roster expanding on September 1, there could be a role for Hamilton where he doesn’t have to bat. Hamilton, who is hitting .248 with eight homers and 28 RBIs, leads the club with 33 stolen bases.
“The speed factor, we’ll see,” Cora said. “He felt it right away. He kind of hesitated before taking off. He was shaking it, shaking it. We knew.”
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Hamilton’s play has become much steadier after a slow start in April. Following a rough stretch early on, the Sox let him sit and watch for a bit before getting him back in the lineup.
“It sucks, it’s pretty unfortunate,” Hamilton said.
Did he regret trying to bunt the pitch instead of backing off?
“Hindsight, I probably wouldn’t even have tried to bunt right there,” he said. “I’m just trying to get on and make something happen.”
Cora was asked if there was any thought of bringing up Vaughn Grissom, who is currently trying to earn his way back to the ballclub from Worcester.
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“We like where he’s at,” Cora said. “He’s making progress, swinging at the right ones, getting hits.”
Sogard, who started at third on Thursday, has played in 12 games with the Sox this year and has hit .227 (10-for-44) over that span. With Devers out of the field until at least Sunday, Cora said his recall made sense.