The Boston Red Sox faced another setback on Saturday as outfielder Tyler O’Neill was taken out late in the game against the Milwaukee Brewers and replaced by Rob Refsnyder.
Boston later announced that O’Neill was removed due to right knee soreness, but the exact moment of the injury was unclear.
After the game, O’Neill addressed the media to explain the situation.
“I’ve been grinding through it for a while,” O’Neill said (via Christopher Smith). “I felt it more on that last swing I took coming out of the box. I think my cleat got caught or something in the batter’s box there. It didn’t feel too good.”
Red Sox manager Alex Cora described him as “day-to-day” during his post-game media availability.
If O’Neill needs some time off, Refsnyder and Ceddanne Rafaela are likely to see more outfield action. O’Neill’s spot as Boston’s designated hitter could be filled by Refsnyder, Garrett Cooper (when healthy), Dominic Smith, or Romy Gonzalez. It could also be used as an opportunity to give someone a rest.
