The Boston Red Sox are placing newly acquired infielder Curtis Mead on the 10-day injured list with a broken left wrist, he confirmed Tuesday.
Mead will fly back to Boston to meet with a hand specialist and determine the next steps, according to MassLive's Christopher Smith. There's no immediate timetable for his return, and it's not yet clear if he'll require surgery.
Mead suffered the injury in his first game with the Red Sox, who acquired the 25-year-old from the Washington Nationals for left-hander Connelly Early on Saturday. He was hit in the wrist by Athletics pitcher Jack Perkins' 95-mph fastball in the fourth inning but stayed in the contest to run the bases and play defense before being removed one inning later.
(Video source: MLB.com)
Initial X-rays taken Monday night returned negative, fueling optimism in the Red Sox clubhouse. However, after waking up Tuesday with wrist soreness, Mead underwent an MRI that revealed the fracture, according to NESN's Tom Caron.
"Super disappointing. It doesn't feel real happening in (my) first game (with the Red Sox)," Mead said Tuesday, according to Ian Browne of MLB.com.
The injury halts the Australian's breakout season. Before Saturday's trade, Mead was hitting .254/.352/.500 with 17 homers, 48 RBIs, and six steals in 87 games with Washington. The Nats had acquired him from the Chicago White Sox three days into the season.
Mead's setback also muddies the waters for a Red Sox team that's pushed itself back into a playoff spot with a red-hot July despite missing a plethora of key players. Mead joins the likes of Roman Anthony, Trevor Story, and Garrett Crochet, among others, on the IL.
Mead, who has experience at multiple infield spots, was expected to play second base for Boston down the stretch. Romy Gonzalez drew into the lineup at the keystone Tuesday against the A's, and he could see more playing time there going forward. Nick Sogard and Anthony Seigler are also potential second base options for interim manager Chad Tracy.
Sogard, who's appeared in 12 games for Boston this year, is being recalled from Triple-A Worcester in a corresponding move. However, the Red Sox will likely have to play a man down Tuesday as Tracy said the infielder is "probably not going to make it" to West Sacramento in time for first pitch, according to Smith.
