As of last week, Red Sox utility infielder Romy Gonzalez he had shoulder problems and received an injection of plasma with platelets. He acknowledged that he might miss Opening Day, though he could end up missing more time. Today, MassLive’s Sean McAdam added that Gonzalez will visit a shoulder specialist next week to see if he needs surgery. Gonzalez said the surgery “isn’t a season breaker in any way, as far as I’m concerned,” although the lefty’s absence will be a blow to the Red Sox’s lineup.
Right-handed hitter Gonzalez suffered a shoulder injury at the end of 2025 and dealt with renewed pain in January while preparing for Spring Training. He posted career-best offensive numbers in 2025, hitting .305/.343/.483 with a 123 wRC+ in 341 plate appearances for the Sox. While his performance against right-handers was a little below average (95 wRC+), he was a hit on the southpaw. In 143 PA for the team, Gonzalez hit seven of his nine home runs and posted a wRC+ of 162 that was tied for 12th-best among hitters with at least 100 PA against lefties. Obviously, the team will hope he avoids surgery, but with that kind of production, they’ll do what it takes to make sure Gonzalez returns at full strength.
A few more injury updates from around the league:
- Angels the right hand Robert Stephenson faced hitters live for the first time Friday as he works to get ready for Opening Day, according to Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register . Stephenson said he understandably has “a little polishing to do” but added that he felt good physically and hit 95 MPH on his fastball (he averaged 96.4 MPH on his four-seamer last year). Tommy John surgery and symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome limited him to 10 innings with Los Angeles. In his last healthy season in 2023, Stephenson threw 52 1/3 innings with a 3.10 ERA and a 38.3% strikeout rate. If healthy, he should put together a late-inning combination with his right-handed teammate Ben JoyceHe is currently working on his shoulder issue.
- Red foreign player Blake Dunn will have an MRI on his left knee today, according to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. Dunn hyperextended his left knee while trying to catch yesterday. The 27-year-old was a 15th-round pick by the Reds in 2021 and appeared in 49 big league games starting in 2024-25, though he posted just a 63 wRC+. He fared much better in Triple-A in 2025, hitting .291/.397/.401 with a 121 wRC+ and 24 stolen bases in 98 games. Right now, Cincinnati has done it Is Benson, Dane Myersagain Spencer Steer on hand as external backups. A healthy Dunn will remain in Triple-A for depth.
- The Dodgers utilityman Tommy Edman he practiced batting a bit yesterday, with Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya. He could hit top speed in a few days if he continues to improve, but it’s still weeks before he’s fully fleshed out. Edman underwent surgery in November to correct an ankle problem that had plagued him all season. Manager Dave Roberts confirmed a few weeks ago that Edman will start the year on the injured list. This news will not increase his return, although in any case, the team wants Edman in full force. He is entering the second year of his five-year, $74MM contract. He posted an 81 wRC+ in 97 games in 2025, showing a decline in power while also striking out less than in 2024.
Photo courtesy of D. Ross Cameron, Magn Images
