Injured Red Sox players hitting, improving

BOSTON -- The Red Sox are getting healthier in the infield, as manager Alex Cora provided encouraging reports on all three players -- Brock Holt, Eduardo Núñez and Dustin Pedroia -- who are currently on the 10-day injured list.

Holt, after finding a contact lens that fits better, at last seems to be over the scratched cornea in his right eye that has sidelined him since April 6.

"Brock, he hit earlier today,” said Cora. “There's a pretty good chance he's going to go on a rehab assignment this weekend. He feels good. Actually he was taking ground balls live when Nuney and Dustin were swinging today. So he feels good. I think one more day of BP here is going to get him to the point that he's comfortable with what's going on and we'll send him to a rehab assignment."

Nunez, who was placed on the injured list Thursday with a mid-back strain, is clearly champing at the bit to return.

"And Eduardo, he took like 300 swings yesterday during the doubleheader, so that's a good sign,” said Cora. “Then today he was out there swinging with velocity. So he feels better. He feels better. He took ground balls, too, so it wouldn't surprise me if in the upcoming days he'll go and play a few games on a rehab assignment."

And what about Pedroia, who felt a pop in his surgically repaired left knee on April 17, leading to a trip back to the injured list the next day?

"Dustin, today he hit outside. He looked OK,” Cora said. “Yesterday he ran, too. I think he was going to take ground balls. We'll see how he reacts with that and we'll talk about it obviously tonight and tomorrow and see what's next."

Chavis proving to be versatile

Everyone knows that top prospect Michael Chavis can hit. He reinforced that notion when his first Major League homer was a 441-foot blast over the Green Monster on Tuesday night.

But what about his defense?

Though Chavis has mainly been a third baseman in the Minor Leagues, Cora is comfortable with him at second base, where he started again Wednesday night.

Chavis could also be used at first, though the Sox are well covered there with Mitch Moreland and Steve Pearce.

“He’s a good athlete,” Cora said. “He was a shortstop. If you were a shortstop when you signed, you have a pretty good idea how to play the game. His internal clock is better than what we saw in Spring Training. Now he’s staying back and making the plays. I don’t want to get ahead of myself. I’ve got to see him more. There are a few people that feel in the corners he’s going to be fine. But you see him at second base. He’s making plays.”

As for the bat, Cora is impressed by more than just the power.

“We talk about him during Spring Training and the offensive upside is there,” Cora said. “He understands a lot of things about hitting, his moves and what he needs to do to be successful. He’s looking for pitches and he understands what they’re trying to do against him and he’s a good hitter.”