Romy Gonzalez Shoulder Decision Could Create Big Lineup Problem For Red Sox
· Yahoo Sports
The Boston Red Sox may soon get a definitive answer on Romy Gonzalez.
Whether it’s the answer they want is another question.
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Gonzalez is scheduled to travel to Alabama this week to meet with orthopedic surgeon Jeffrey R. Dugas, who will evaluate whether the infielder’s injured left shoulder requires surgery.
Dugas repaired Gonzalez’s right labrum back in 2023 when Gonzalez was still with the Chicago White Sox, a procedure that ended that season early. The surgeon also operated on Garrett Whitlock and former Red Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito in 2024.
For Gonzalez, the upcoming consultation represents something close to a final decision point.
“It’s a little more than a second opinion, I guess,” Gonzalez told reporters in Fort Myers, FL. “It’s more of a ‘do or don’t’ when it comes to surgery. I’m just waiting to hear from him.”
The shoulder has been an issue since September, when Gonzalez initially injured it late in the 2025 season. He continued playing through the discomfort for the final weeks of the year before attempting to rehab the injury over the offseason.
After suffering a setback in January, Gonzalez received a platelet-rich plasma injection intended to stimulate healing in the soft tissue.
Six weeks later - typically the window when PRP treatments begin to show meaningful results - the progress has been limited.
“Pain is still lingering,” Gonzalez told the media.
The Red Sox already know Gonzalez will not be ready for Opening Day. The bigger question now is how long he might be unavailable if surgery becomes necessary.
Gonzalez remains hopeful that even if the procedure is recommended, it would not end his season.
Sep 24, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Boston Red Sox second baseman Romy Gonzalez (23) hits a single against the Toronto Blue Jays in the eighth inning at Rogers Centre. (Dan Hamilton/Imagn Images)“It’s good that the left shoulder is not a season-ender or anything, unless they find some crazy stuff in there, which I doubt,” said Gonzalez.
For Boston, the uncertainty goes beyond simple roster depth.
Gonzalez quietly became one of the club’s most valuable weapons against left-handed pitching last season. Acquired off waivers from the White Sox ahead of the 2024 campaign, he steadily carved out a role thanks to his positional versatility and ability to impact games offensively.
In 2025, Gonzalez appeared in 96 games and hit .305 with an .826 OPS overall.
Against left-handed pitching, the numbers were even more striking.
Gonzalez produced a .317 average and .931 OPS against southpaws across his time in Boston, including a .331/.378/.600 line last season alone. In a lineup that once featured several right-handed bats capable of punishing lefties, Gonzalez emerged as one of the most reliable options.
That matters even more now.
The Red Sox lineup that handled left-handed pitching effectively in 2025 looks considerably different heading into 2026.
Rob Refsnyder, who posted a .959 OPS against lefties, departed in free agency and is now with the Seattle Mariners. Alex Bregman also left via free agency after producing an .855 OPS versus southpaws. And Rafael Devers - who logged a .901 OPS against lefties before being traded during the 2025 season - is now with the San Francisco Giants.
Gonzalez, in fact, led that entire group with a .978 OPS against left-handed pitching last year. That context underscores why Gonzalez’s potential absence creates a ripple effect beyond the bench.
Manager Alex Cora has historically protected many of Boston’s left-handed hitters from difficult matchups against southpaws, particularly earlier in their careers. Players such as Wilyer Abreu, Jarren Duran, Triston Casas, Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer have all spent time in platoon-friendly situations while developing.
But the roster composition heading into 2026 may force some adjustments.
Cora has already suggested that players like Abreu could see more opportunities against left-handed pitching as the team evaluates their long-term development.
Stay locked in to Roundtable for all the latest on this developing situation.
Sep 20, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Boston Red Sox second baseman Romy Gonzalez (23) runs two first base on a single against the Tampa Bay Rays in the eighth inning at George M. Steinbrenner Field. (Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images)JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
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Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.