Just a month ago, Boston Red Sox fans were debating whether their outfield was too stacked, with an embarrassment of riches patrolling Fenway Park’s green expanses. Fast forward to the critical stretch run of the 2025 season, and those same fans are now left wondering: Can Wilyer Abreu even run?
The Red Sox outfield, once a beacon of depth and dynamism, has been decimated by a brutal one-two punch of injuries. Wilyer Abreu, the team’s Gold Glove-caliber right fielder, has been sidelined by a nagging calf injury that’s proven far more stubborn than anyone anticipated. To make matters worse, rising star Roman Anthony suffered an oblique injury during a strikeout on Tuesday, an ailment that will likely keep him out for the remainder of the regular season. In the blink of an eye, Boston’s outfield surplus has turned into a patchwork crisis.
Manager Alex Cora provided an update on Abreu’s status before Friday’s matchup against the Arizona Diamondbacks, but the news was far from encouraging. “He’s supposed to run tomorrow,” Cora told MassLive. “We’ll know tomorrow night. He’s going to run for the first time since Baltimore.” Abreu attempted to test his calf last week but was forced to shut it down, underscoring the frustratingly uneven nature of his recovery.
Earlier in the week, Cora had expressed concern about the sluggish progress. “He hasn’t run,” the manager said. “He’s not running … just progressing but slowly. Not the way we envisioned when the injury happened, so we just have to be patient. It’s not a setback. It’s just not getting better the way we saw.” The Red Sox are hopeful that Abreu can return to the lineup shortly after proving he can run pain-free, with no plans for a minor-league rehab stint. But the uncertainty surrounding his recovery has left the team—and its fans—on edge.
Whispers around Fenway suggest that the organization may have mishandled Abreu’s injury from the start. What was initially thought to be a minor tweak has ballooned into a significant issue, raising questions about the team’s medical evaluations and internal communication. While Cora stopped short of calling it a setback, the prolonged timeline and Abreu’s inability to run have sparked frustration within the clubhouse. This backstage blunder has left the Red Sox scrambling at a pivotal moment in their season.
With Anthony sidelined and Abreu’s return uncertain, Boston’s outfield is suddenly razor-thin. On Friday, journeyman Nate Eaton drew the start in right field, while veteran Rob Refsnyder is expected to shoulder a heavier load in the coming weeks. The team’s once-vaunted depth is now being held together by what some have dubbed a “chicken-wire-and-bubble-gum approach,” as Cora mixes and matches to keep the lineup afloat.
The absence of Abreu stings all the more because of his stellar 2025 campaign. The 26-year-old was in the midst of a breakout third season, delivering career-best numbers with 22 home runs and an .811 OPS. His elite defense in right field—worthy of Gold Glove consideration—has been a cornerstone of Boston’s success. Losing him, even temporarily, leaves a gaping hole in both the lineup and the outfield.
The Red Sox are clinging to hope that Abreu’s running test this weekend will mark a turning point. A successful return could stabilize the outfield and provide a much-needed boost as Boston battles for a postseason berth. But until then, the team is left to navigate a precarious situation, with fingers crossed that their backstage missteps don’t cost them more than just a few games.