Andrew Benintendi’s Red Sox season could be over

BOSTON --- For the second time in as many days, the Red Sox have cast doubt on whether or not Andrew Benintendi will return this season.

The left fielder is suffering from a strained right rib cage and is on the 10-day injured list. Benintendi was hurt while caught in a rundown between second base and third base in an August game against the Rays at Fenway Park.

Benintendi has yet to resume baseball activities and struggled to sleep comfortably during his first couple [...]

BOSTON --- For the second time in as many days, the Red Sox have cast doubt on whether or not Andrew Benintendi will return this season.

The left fielder is suffering from a strained right rib cage and is on the 10-day injured list. Benintendi was hurt while caught in a rundown between second base and third base in an August game against the Rays at Fenway Park.

Benintendi has yet to resume baseball activities and struggled to sleep comfortably during his first couple weeks of recovery. He last played on Aug. 11 and would have endured a bleaker season than most if this is indeed the end. Chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom wasn’t certain whether or not Benintendi would play again when asked Monday, and manager Ron Roenicke seemed equally doubtful Tuesday.

"He doesn’t have as much pain as he did before, but it’s still there," Roenicke said. "Any rotational activity, it’s still painful. Unfortunately this thing is slow like we thought it possibly could be and keeping him away from doing anything with baseball activities."

Benintendi was just 4-for-39 at the plate prior to his injury. He enjoyed what seemed to be a strong Summer Camp and couldn’t carry that form past Opening Day on July 24. Benintendi was dropped from the leadoff spot in the order, a place now occupied by Alex Verdugo.

Jose Peraza started in left field Monday night against Atlanta and Tzu-Wei Lin earned the call Tuesday. Roenicke said J.D. Martinez and the recently-promoted Yairo Munoz could also be granted outfield innings alongside regulars Verdugo and Jackie Bradley Jr.

"We were going to put (Munoz) in left today," Roenicke said. "I’m comfortable doing that. I know he hasn’t played a ton out there, but he has played left field."

One player who seems unlikely to get an immediate look is prospect Jarren Duran. He belted a fifth home run in simulated game action at the alternate site in Pawtucket on Tuesday. Duran has yet to play above the Double-A level, is not on the 40-man roster and will likely have his service time closely monitored.

"I know we talked about him," Roenicke said. "I think Chaim and his crew feel like he’s still a ways away and didn’t want to rush him up here and play him. I look at his reports all the time, and he’s doing well.

"He’s still got some development. He’s a guy we really need to take care of and do the right things, because this could be a really special player."

bkoch@providencejournal.com

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On Twitter: @BillKoch25