Romy Gonzalez’s shoulder injury late last season has cast uncertainty over his availability for the Boston Red Sox to begin the 2026 campaign, creating opportunities for several players to claim his roster spot. The utility man, who blossomed with the team since joining in 2024, is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day, leaving a gap in Boston’s infield and lineup rotation.
Gonzalez emerged as a valuable asset for the Red Sox after being claimed off waivers from the Chicago White Sox in 2024. That year, he contributed a 0.9 bWAR across 89 games before elevating his performance in 2025, doubling his wins above replacement to 2.0 despite playing only 96 games. Notably, Gonzalez earned a reputation as a formidable hitter against left-handed pitchers, batting .331 with a .978 OPS and seven of his nine homers coming against southpaws. His 174 OPS+ against lefties marked him as 74% better than the average hitter in those matchups.
Throughout his time with Boston, Gonzalez’s versatility on the field has been a hallmark of his value. In 2024, he played at all four infield positions and briefly in the outfield, while last season he split most of his innings between first and second base, with some time at third. He also increased his plate appearances against right-handed pitching, though with moderate success. His planned role for 2026 shifted back toward second and third base, but the injury has delayed his spring training participation significantly.
Players Positioned to Benefit from Gonzalez’s Setback
Andruw Monasterio’s Expanded Opportunity
Andruw Monasterio, acquired in the Caleb Durbin trade, may now have the clearest path to the Sox’s Opening Day roster given Gonzalez’s absence. Monasterio, who demonstrated multi-positional flexibility last season by playing first, second, third base, shortstop, and left field, also excels against left-handed pitching much like Gonzalez. With his strong spring performance, Monasterio is poised to step into that utility role smoothly. Additionally, possessing minor league options allows the Red Sox to option him back to Triple-A when Gonzalez returns, giving the team roster flexibility.
Nick Sogard’s Versatility Adds Value
Nick Sogard has steadily established himself within the organization as a dependable bench contributor over the past two years. Known for his positional versatility similar to Gonzalez, Sogard can cover multiple infield spots, although his offensive production has not matched Gonzalez or Monasterio’s. Nevertheless, his switch-hitting ability differentiates him and could allow Boston to mix lineups more strategically as they manage the injury.
Brendan Rodgers Faces a Challenging Road to Roster Spot
Brendan Rodgers, a recent late offseason signing on a minor league deal with a spring training invitation, confronts the steepest challenge in breaking into the Major League roster. The former third overall draft pick would require a spot on the 40-man roster to make the team. Still, his consistent contact hitting against lefties, boasting a career .295 average, is a notable strength. Since 2022, Rodgers has specialized at second base and, despite reduced positional flexibility compared to other prospects like Isaiah Kiner-Falefa, Marcelo Mayer, and Caleb Durbin, his defensive credentials—including a Gold Glove award—add to his appeal. After avoiding a negative bWAR season when playing significant games, an impressive spring showing could earn him early season playing time.
Boston faces a tense spring as it assesses how to adjust its roster without Gonzalez, a player who quickly became a pivotal section of their infield and lineup. His injury not only tests the depth of the Red Sox but also highlights the emerging versatility and readiness of players like Monasterio, Sogard, and Rodgers. The eventual return of Gonzalez will be critical, but for now, the team must balance opportunity and uncertainty as the new season approaches.
