Kalish’s injury woes continue, 2013 season in jeopardy?
Ryan Kalish hopes to recover quickly from his offseason surgery and make an impact in 2013. Bob DeChiara US Presswire.
When it comes to adding players to the disabled list, the Red Sox got a head start in 2013. The first Sox player to be kept off the field is outfielder Ryan Kalish will have surgery on his right shoulder before the season starts. He will miss Spring Training, but no one knows how much of the 2013 season he might now miss.
Kalish was once widely regarded as the top minor league outfielder in the Red Sox organization. Sox fans got a taste of his potential in 2010 where he filled in for Jacoby Ellsbury hitting .252 in 53 games with four home runs while playing spectacular defense in the outfield. Kalish made a good first impression with his gritty determination and hard nosed playing style. In an ironic twist of fate, however, that playing style was what caused his recent slew of injuries.
Kalish is well known to play with reckless abandon, however in his desire to win at all costs he has been breaking down at the young age of 24. Just last year Kalish received surgery on a torn labrum in his left shoulder, and has had nagging wrist and neck issues over the years.
Kalish has been optimistic though, and will work with the Red Sox medical staff to return to health so he can get back on the field.
“I’m not thinking relatively healthy, I’m thinking fully healthy,” Kalish said. “I honestly believe that. That’s my ultimate goal, to be fully healthy and to be ready to compete. If I get strong enough and I get the proper care, which is happening, then we’re going to find out realistically where everything is at.”
With Ellsbury in the final year of his contract and Shane Victorino approaching the back end of his career, the Sox certainly need Kalish to rebound and return to top form. Kalish may not make it back in 2013, but hopefully he can return and make an impact in the 2014 season.
For now, the Sox have many options to play around with. They signed Victorino and Jonny Gomes, which along with Ellsbury gives them a decent outfield. They let Ryan Sweeney walk in September, yet recently reached out to him and gave him an invitation to Spring Training. Daniel Nava, everyone’s favorite Disney story, is still in the Sox organization, providing them plenty of depth going into the 2013 season.
Sweeney has been active on Twitter since he received the news of a possible return.
“So excited to be back in Boston!” Sweeney tweeted “thanks to the Red Sox for the opportunity to play there again. Spring Training here we come.”
