The Red Sox had multiple lefty killers in their 2025 lineup.<\/p>\n
The 2026 Red Sox may not have any, at least for a significant portion of the season.<\/p>\n
Romy Gonzalez will travel to Alabama Tuesday for a Wednesday appointment with Dr. Jeffrey Dugas, who will evaluate whether his injured left shoulder requires surgery. Dugas repaired Gonzalez\u2019s right labrum in 2023, a season-ending surgery, and has operated on several current and former Red Sox, including right-handers Garrett Whitlock<\/a> and Lucas Giolito<\/a> in 2024.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a little more than a second opinion, I guess,\u201d Gonzalez told MassLive\u2019s Sean McAdam on Saturday, \u201cit\u2019s more of a \u2018do or don\u2019t\u2019 when it comes to surgery. I\u2019m just waiting to hear from him.\u201d<\/p>\n Gonzalez revealed weeks ago that tests on his shoulder, which has plagued him since September, showed a small tear. He received a platelet-rich plasma injection (PRP) in January after suffering a setback, and hasn\u2019t been able to participate in baseball activities.<\/p>\n The Red Sox have already accepted that Gonzalez won\u2019t be ready for Opening Day. But Friday marked six weeks since the PRP injection, which typically takes effect within four to six weeks, and the tests revealed even less improvement than they hoped. Gonzalez also told reporters he\u2019s still dealing with \u201clingering\u201d pain.<\/p>\n The Red Sox have plenty of infield bench options, it\u2019s Gonzalez\u2019s bat that\u2019s irreplaceable. He hit .305 with a .826 OPS in 96 games last season, and owns a .317 average and .931 OPS line against left-handed pitching since the Red Sox claimed him off waivers from the Chicago White Sox ahead of the 2024 season.<\/p>\n Eighteen Boston batters played at least 15 games against lefties last year, and the Red Sox had already lost three of the five who posted an OPS over .770: Rob Refsnyder (.959), Rafael Devers (.901) and Alex Bregman (.855). The Red Sox traded Devers to the San Francisco Giants last June, lost Refsnyder and Bregman in free agency this offseason.<\/p>\n Without Gonzalez, who led the quintet with a .978 OPS against southpaws, Nick Sogard, who had a .857 OPS against southpaws but in just 18 games, is the last man standing.<\/p>\n The historical context of Gonzalez\u2019s 2025 numbers only underscores his absence from the Red Sox lineup. According to StatHead, he\u2019s one of 26 players in franchise history to post an OPS of .978 or higher in at least 60 games against lefties in a single season. The first Red Sox to ever do so was Ted Williams, who had a 1.103 OPS in 61 games in 1948; Dwight Evans (4x), Manny Ramirez (5x), David Ortiz (3x) and Mookie Betts are also on the list.<\/p>\n Newcomer Andruw Monasterio, acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers<\/a> last month alongside Caleb Durbin<\/a> and Anthony Seigler, could help fill the void. In 109 career games against lefties, Monasterio has a .255\/.352\/.375 slash line. Durbin also hit .258 with a .717 OPS in 68 games against lefties in his 2025 rookie season.<\/p>\n