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Xander Bogaerts (Ankle) Is Already Out Of His Walking Boot

Xander Bogaerts is already out of his walking boot as he recovers from a small fracture in his ankle. The Red Sox shortstop is “very optimistic”.

Apr 8, 2018; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) is helped off the field by a trainer during the seventh inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Xander Bogaerts is helped off the field by a trainer after suffering an ankle injury against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park. (Photo Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports)

(Photo Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports)

Xander Bogaerts was spotted in a walking boot after suffering an ankle injury against the Rays last Sunday. He's already walking without it.

The Red Sox shortstop is expected to miss 10-14 days after being placed on the disabled list with what the team described as a "small crack" in the talus bone of his left ankle. He's already making progress after ridding himself of the walking boot.

Bogaerts told Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald that he feels a lot better than he did on Sunday, no longer needing the boot to be able to move around comfortably.

"I needed a boot my first few days, my first day especially," Bogaerts said. "Walking back to my place was really tough. I couldn’t do it on my own. But today I could pretty much walk around, not pain-free. It’s all dependent on the weight that I walk. That’s when I get the most pain."

Apr 8, 2018; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) is examined by a trainer during the seventh inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports(Photo Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports)

Xander Bogaerts is examined by a trainer during the seventh inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park. (Photo Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports)

He added that he's still unsure exactly how he suffered the ankle injury, but he's "very optimistic" that he'll be right back to the same player once he returns anyway.

The injury was unfortunate timing for Bogaerts, who was off to a scorching start. He's batting .368 with two home runs and nine RBIs in nine games so far in 2018, and still leads all of baseball with seven doubles.

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Matt, a North Andover, Massachusetts native, has been with The Sports Hub since 2010. Growing up the son of Boston University All-American and Melrose High School hall-of-fame hockey player Steve Dolloff, sports was always a part of his life. After attending Northeastern University, Matt focused his love of sports on writing, extensively writing about all four major Boston teams. He also is a co-host of the Sports Hub Underground podcast and is a regular on-air contributor on the Sports Hub. Matt writes about all New England sports from Patriots football to Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins.