Bogaerts goes deep in first rehab start

April 25th, 2018

TORONTO -- Starting what should be a short rehab assignment for Triple-A Pawtucket on Tuesday night, Red Sox shortstop displayed the same hot bat he had before going on the disabled list.
Bogaerts homered to right in the fourth inning and then had an opposite-field double in the sixth, going 2-for-3 and playing six innings at shortstop.
If the weather cooperates, Bogaerts will start again for Pawtucket on Wednesday.

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Either way, there's a strong chance Bogaerts will be activated by the Red Sox for the start of the Red Sox's homestand on Friday night against the Rays.
"[Monday] he worked out here [in Toronto]," said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. "He took grounders, very aggressive, turned double plays. He did everything out there, and it looks like he's good to go."
Bogaerts suffered a small crack in the talus bone in his left ankle on April 8. In the nine games before going on the DL, Bogaerts slashed .368/.400/.711 with two homers and nine RBIs.
Cora thinks a game or two in the Minors should be enough.
"As long as he's comfortable with it. His worry, like I said, is defensively. It's not offense," Cora said. "He can get three at-bats, he can track pitches, he'll train himself in the offensive part, but defensively there's a lot of stuff that goes out there that you can't do just taking ground balls. As long as he feels good defensively, we'll be fine with it."