This isn’t the start to spring training that Boston Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu had envisioned.
Coming off a strong season where he earned a Gold Glove and placed sixth in AL Rookie of the Year voting, Abreu was sidelined as soon as he arrived at camp due to a viral gastrointestinal illness.
The Red Sox have put Abreu on hold from all baseball activities, and that remains the case as manager Alex Cora provided an update on Tuesday before Boston’s exhibition game against the Atlanta Braves.
“He can work out. He cannot do baseball activities yet,” Cora told reporters, per MassLive’s Christopher Smith.
The team is taking a wait-and-see approach, as Abreu has lost weight due to the illness. Cora noted that the outfielder underwent additional lab work on Monday.
“They are getting the results today. So we’re still waiting,” Cora said.
Abreu was projected to be an Opening Day starter in the Red Sox outfield alongside Ceddanne Rafaela and Jarren Duran. While it’s uncertain if his health will impact that, there’s still a month left before the regular season begins.
Acquired in the 2022 trade deadline deal that sent Christian Vázquez to Houston, Abreu hit .253 with 15 home runs, 58 RBIs, and eight stolen bases in his first full MLB season. He also led all AL outfielders with nine assists.
Abreu is the only Red Sox position player completely sidelined at the moment, as Masataka Yoshida continues rehabbing from shoulder surgery and Rafael Devers progresses well from last season’s shoulder issues.
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