'Definitely a chance' Eovaldi may need surgery

ST. PETERSBURG -- Boston's rotation took another hit on Saturday, when Nathan Eovaldi was placed on the 10-day injured list after an MRI revealed two loose bodies in his right elbow.

Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said there was a “definitely a chance” Eovaldi would need surgery, but he cautioned that there are various methods of treatment for the ailment. Eovaldi will be re-evaluated Monday after his appointment in New York with Dr. Christopher Ahmad, who operated on the starter’s elbow and forearm in 2016.

“There’s just a very small piece in there, but it’s in the wrong place,” Dombrowski said. “We won’t know [the prognosis] until Monday. That’s when the doctor will see him, and we’ll kind of go from there.”

Eovaldi echoed the wait-and-see mentality, but also hinted that surgery would be the likely route -- as he’s been in this situation before, when an MRI also revealed loose bodies in spring 2018. Although a cortisone shot was offered as an alternative method of treatment at the time, Eovaldi opted for arthroscopic surgery.

“It’s very similar to what I had last year. We’ll know more on Monday, but possibly, [I'll] have the surgery like I had last year," said Eovaldi. "It’s a short amount of time on the IL.

“I went right into the surgery [last year], and it worked out really well for me. It’s one of those things where we’re at in the year, too. It’s so early in the season, we have a lot of time left, we don’t want anything to get worse toward the end of the season.”

Eovaldi, who was instrumental in Boston's march to the World Series championship last season, was re-signed this offseason to a four-year deal. He has a 0-0 record and a 6.00 ERA in four starts this season.

“I felt like the procedure went really smoothly last year and the recovery was fast,” Eovaldi said. “It’s two weeks until you have your range of motion back.

“I would say [it’s better to have the procedure].”

The right-hander has had Tommy John surgery twice -- once in high school, and again in 2016, while with the Yankees.

Boston summoned left-hander Bobby Poyner from Triple-A Pawtucket to fill his roster spot.

Holt removed from rehab assignment

Working his way back to the Red Sox, Brock Holt was removed from a game at Triple-A Pawtucket on Friday as his scratched right cornea continued to irritate him, Dombrowski said.

The Red Sox utility man tried out a contact to aid his sight and comfort on Friday, but his situation did not improve.

“The eye is still bothering him,” Dombroski said. “So we’re just pulling it back and reassessing.”

Hey, I know you

Marco Hernandez has dealt with his fair share of adversity during his short baseball career. Left shoulder injuries have limited the 26-year-old, who hasn’t played in a game since May 3, 2017.

Hernandez appeared to turn a big corner on Saturday, when the Red Sox announced the third baseman would begin a rehab assignment at Class A Advanced Salem.

Hernandez, who was drafted by the Cubs as an amateur free agent in 2009, appeared in just 61 career games for the Red Sox between 2016-17 and hit a combined .284 with four doubles, a home run, seven RBIs and six walks.