Red Sox re-sign familiar face behind the plate

Catcher was one of the few positions on the Red Sox not bit by the injury but through the first half of the 2023 season. Between Connor Wong's breakout and steady contributions from Reese McGuire, the firs three months of the season went by without incident. That changed two weeks ago though, when McGuire suffered a right oblique strain that landed him on the IL.

With McGuire on the shelf, the Red Sox called up Caleb Hamilton from Worcester to be Wong's backup, but Hamilton went hitless in four games. Now, they're turning to a familiar face to sure up that part of the roster.

On Thursday afternoon, the Sox announced the signing and activation of 30-year-old veteran catcher Jorge Alfaro. According to the team Alfaro is signed through the end of the current season.

This will be Alfaro's second stint with the Red Sox, but first time in Boston. Originally signed to a minor-league deal in January, Alfaro had an excellent spring training slashing .320/.367/.520 with six home runs, 30 RBI, and four steals while also putting up a strong showing in the World Baseball Classic for Team Colombia. However, the team elected to keep Wong and McGuire as their two catchers and Alfaro was reassigned to Triple-A Worcester.

In Worcester Alfaro hit .323 over 46 games, but with strong play ahead of him in the Majors was never called up. He had a call-up clause in his contract for June 1, which he exercised and became a free agent.

In mid-June, Alfaro briefly signed with the Rockies and played in 10 games. He was DFA'ed on June 30, opening the door for the Red Sox to re-sign him.

In order to make room for Alfaro on the roster, the Red Sox DFA'ed Hamilton on Thursday. Hamilton could return to Worcester if he clears waivers.

Although Alfaro is back with the team, Wong will get the start on Thursday night for the Red Sox's series finale with the Texas Rangers. First pitch for that rubber match at Fenway Park is set for 7:10 p.m. ET.

Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at abarth@985TheSportsHub.com.

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The Boston Red Sox have endured all kinds of bad injury news in the 2023 season - even before it started. And we're here to track it all at the 985TheSportsHub.com Red Sox injury tracker, which you can view below.

It was a rough year on the injury front even before the 2023 campaign kicked off for the Red Sox, who were dealt the news that shortstop Trevor Story had to undergo major elbow surgery and miss substantial time during the regular season. Story entered the season with an expectation to miss at least the first half of the schedule.

Chris Sale, meanwhile, continues to be a real injury concern into 2023. From 2019-2022, Sale averaged just 12 starts and 65 innings per season as he dealt with various injuries, including Tommy John surgery that shut him down for the entire 2020 season. He was finally ready to pitch at the start of the season in 2023, but eventually suffered a stress reaction in his throwing shoulder that has forced him to once again miss time.

Players can be placed on the 10-day, 15-day, or 60-day injured list, depending on the severity of the injury and associated recovery time. Position players must spend a minimum of 10 days, while for pitchers the minimum is 15 days. Players can be placed on the IL retroactively up to 10 days, in cases where injuries are officially not diagnosed for a time after they are suffered.

Players on the 10-day or 15-day IL are removed from the 25-man roster, but remain on the expanded 40-man roster. Players on the 60-day IL do not count toward either roster. Teams can also utilize the paternity list to replace an expecting father for 1-3 days, or the bereavement list to replace players who experience a death in their family for 3-7 days.

The Boston Red Sox have to continually keep their roster up-to-date due to injuries both major and minor. Get the latest Boston Red Sox injury news in our tracker below, including reports, transactions and more.

Chris Sale underwent a fresh MRI on Thursday that came back negative, meaning he was cleared to start throwing (via Jen McCaffrey). There's still no timetable for Sale's return from a stress reaction in his throwing shoulder

Sale did, however, tell reporters he could be as many as six weeks out. His rehab will continue here in Bostonl rather than in Florida.

Starter Tanner Houck still has no official timetable for his return, but he's now in the post-surgery phase. He underwent a procedure to repair a fracture in the area connecting his right eye and cheekbone.

If you're interested in the medical jargon, according to Alex Speier of the Boston Globe, it was an "open reduction and internal fixation” to repair a fracture to his orbito-zygomaticomaxillary complex." Houck and the Red Sox will meet soon to map out his actual return plan, which certainly seems like it will last for extended time.

Trevor Story is still expected to miss more time in July before returning from off-season elbow surgery. But, according to MLB.com, Story's "goal is to play shortstop for the Red Sox at some point in August and perhaps return as a designated hitter in July."

So, it's possible the Sox could get Story back on the field before August. At the plate, anyway.

We'll continue to keep you updated on the latest on the Boston Red Sox here at 985TheSportsHub.com, including news, rumors, features, and more. Click here for complete coverage and listen weekdays from 6-7 p.m. for The Baseball Hour With Tony Mazz.

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