Projo Sox Blog

Slumping shortstop Jed Lowrie had to be pulled from last night's game against New York after injuring his left wrist and forearm on a checkswing, prompting feelings of numbness and tingling up and down the arm and into the hand. The numbness is a potentially serious concern considering that Lowrie underwent surgery on the wrist in April.

"We'll spend some time tonight trying to see what we need to do with him," manager Terry Francona said.

Lowrie himself wasn't sure where exactly the problem lies.

"I think it was a checkswing in the first inning, I got some numbness in my hand. I don't think we've figured out if it's the surgery site or if it was the nerve in my elbow. The training staff said the ulna, the ulnar nerve?" Lowrie said.

Lowrie said he felt a similar pain last week against Oakland, but it happened at the end of a game and went away after a few days.

"I don't know if this is something new, or if the first time it just never got better," Lowrie said.

If Lowrie can't play tomorrow, the Sox would have only one shortstop on the active roster, Nick Green -- and he isn't even a natural shortstop. Another promotion from Pawtucket seems likely for the decimated Red Sox roster.

The Red Sox had two minor-league infielders on the 40-man roster last week, second baseman Travis Denker and shortstop Gil Velazquez, but since then, both have been removed from the 40-man in order to free up spots for other players.

Velazquez is still in roster limbo and isn't a callup option, but Denker has cleared waivers and is back with Pawtucket. Denker, however, has never really played shortstop, spending most of his time at second and third.

The only pure shortstop on the Pawtucket roster right now is Ivan Ochoa, who spent time in the major leagues with San Francisco last year, but was hampered by a hamstring problem most of this season. Ochoa has played well since returning to action last month, and is now at .220 with two home runs and 24 runs scored, earning praise from manager Ron Johnson.

"He's a good player, he's got major-league experience, he's got good skills ... and when he's played, he's produced," Johnson said last week.

Ochoa seems like the most likely candidate in the event that Lowrie can't go. The Sox have, however, shown a willingness to cull players from Double-A and promote them in a pinch recently, though Double-A starting shortstop Iggy Suarez has hit under .200 in both his Double-A and Triple-A stints this season.

Ochoa would need to be added to the 40-man to join the team, but the club could do that while removing, say, Billy Traber, who pitched tonight and wouldn't be available for days anyway.

 Tags  Dan Barbarisi Gil Velazquez Ivan Ochoa Jed Lowrie Travis Denker

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