Mickey Gasper played an integral role in helping push the Red Sox across the finish line to make it back to the postseason, but it appears the catcher and pinch hitting standout won’t be available the rest of the way.
Red Sox manager Chad Tracy said Gasper suffered what the club believes to be a “significant’ biceps injury during the first game of Friday’s doubleheader. Gasper was removed from the game to start the top of the sixth inning after striking out during the prior inning and subsequently underwent an MRI, and while the club has not determined the extent of the injury, Tracy sounded pessimistic that Gasper would be available for the club again this year.
“At this point it just looks like a significant biceps injury,” Tracy said following Friday’s night game. “So he’s still going to be seeing more doctors and stuff like that and we’ll get a final conclusion but it’s a pretty significant biceps injury, it’s probably going to take him out.”
Losing Gasper on the eve of the playoffs will deal a significant blow to the club’s depth. Since coming back up in mid-August Gasper has been among the team’s most productive hitters, hitting 10 home runs in 33 games while batting .272 with an 1.119 OPS entering Friday.
The 30-year-old has been particularly dangerous from the left side of the plate and presumably would have been inserted into some big spots late against right-handers during the upcoming Wild Card Series against the Yankees.