**Red Sox’s Alex Cora Updates on Tyler O’Neill’s Injury Status After Recent Absence**
The Boston Red Sox are hopeful that their Gold Glove-winning outfielder, Tyler O’Neill, will soon return to the lineup.
O’Neill was pulled from Friday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks due to inflammation in his finger. This comes shortly after he had just rejoined the team from the injured list the previous week. The Red Sox have announced he will also miss Saturday’s game, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.
“[O’Neill is] not ready for today. We’re aiming for tomorrow… he’s feeling better. He’ll take some swings during the game to test it out, but he’ll likely be back tomorrow,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said, as reported by Smith.
O’Neill, a two-time Gold Glove winner, had previously missed time in early August due to a series of health issues that led to hospitalization. He was dealing with a stomach virus and an infection in his left leg that required him to spend four days in the hospital.
The 29-year-old outfielder was placed on the 10-day injured list on August 4, but his return was delayed because his leg infection took longer to heal than expected. O’Neill returned to the lineup on August 17 but is now sidelined again with inflammation in his left fourth finger. He last played for the Red Sox on August 20, going 2-for-15 without any extra-base hits in the four games between his injuries.
**The Red Sox Need Tyler O’Neill Back and Producing**
Despite recent injury setbacks and struggles at the plate, O’Neill remains a crucial player for the Red Sox. Along with his defensive prowess, he has been an offensive asset in his first season with Boston, recording 22 home runs, 46 RBIs, 60 runs, a .875 OPS, and an OPS+ of 137 this year. He has contributed 2.2 bWAR over just 84 games in 2024.
The current finger issue isn’t expected to require a stint on the injured list. Cora noted that O’Neill has dealt with similar finger problems in the past and mentioned, “He told me it usually takes one or two days, so hopefully, he’ll be back tomorrow,” as per MassLive.
O’Neill joined the Red Sox in an offseason trade after six seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals. His return to full health and form is critical as Boston navigates the final stretch of the season. The team has struggled recently, going 6-9 in their last 15 games and 14-18 since the All-Star break.
This rough patch has caused the Red Sox to fall eight games behind the first-place New York Yankees in the AL East. However, they remain just 3.5 games out of the third AL Wild Card spot. O’Neill’s ability to recover and perform could significantly influence the team’s playoff aspirations.
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