Boston Red Sox
“It’s probably gonna take him out,” Chad Tracy said.
The Boston Red Sox were dealt another substantial injury blow on Friday.
Mickey Gasper, who has played multiple positions and at times been an offensive spark plug for the Red Sox, could miss the rest of this season and be out for the playoffs, manager Chad Tracy told reporters on Friday.
Gasper suffered a right biceps injury after striking out swinging in the fifth inning in Game 1 of Friday’s doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs. He immediately flexed his arm after the at-bat and grimaced on his way back to the dugout.
Gasper, who typically doesn’t show emotion on the field, continued to wince while being checked out by a trainer and did not return to the game. He was replaced by Connor Wong in the sixth frame and did not play in Game 2.
Gasper underwent an MRI, and it doesn’t sound like the results were good.
“At this point, it looks like a significant biceps injury,” Tracy said after Game 2. “He’s gonna still be seeing more doctors and stuff like that.
“We’ll get a final conclusion, but it’s a pretty significant biceps injury. It’s probably gonna take him out.”
It would be a massive loss for the Red Sox, who have leaned on Gasper offensively and defensively for a good chunk of the second half, with the wild-card series against the New York Yankees beginning Tuesday in the Bronx.
Gasper notably slashed .378/.525/.1.000 with a 1.525 OPS with eight home runs and 15 RBI from Aug. 17 to Sept. 4. He was one of many faces of a lengthy and unprecedented turnaround by Boston coming out of MLB’s All-Star break, and ultimately helped them secure a playoff berth for the second consecutive season.
Since then, Gasper, a New Hampshire native and Bryant University graduate, has been a mainstay in the top half of the lineup.
Defensively, Gasper has played several crucial roles this season. He’s played designated hitter (33 games), catcher (15), and first base (10). With 1B Willson Contreras’s injuries this month, including the latest concerning update regarding his hand, Gasper has helped fill the void.
If both Contreras and Gasper are out for the wild-card and potentially beyond, Boston’s depth would be majorly tested. Andruw Monasterio played 1B in Game 1, but his defense can be questionable, and he has cooled off significantly at the plate this month.
Nick Sogard (who played 1B in Game 2) and Isiah Kiner-Falefa are also options if the Red Sox opt to platoon the position in the event that Contreras can’t play.
At catcher, Boston will have to hope Adley Rutschman continues hitting well after experiencing a considerable slump since being dealt for at the trade deadline. The team will also hope he can stay healthy after dealing with multiple ailments since joining the club.
Connor Wong’s defense can’t be trusted, plus he’s inconsistent offensively, which isn’t ideal in the event Rutschman needs a breather.
You may not have had Gasper being as important to the 2026 Red Sox on your bingo card at the start of the season, but his absence will be felt if he’s indeed done for the year.
Get the latest Boston sports news
Receive updates on your favorite Boston teams, straight from our newsroom to your inbox.
