Red Sox Underrated Option Emerges to Replace Injured Romy González

The Boston Red Sox are inching closer to the start of the 2026 season with expectations that continue to build across the organization, yet uncertainty is beginning to creep into their early-season roster planning as one key utility player deals with an injury that could delay his availability beyond Opening Day.

Romy González, who quickly became one of Boston’s most valuable Swiss-army-knife contributors last season thanks to his ability to play multiple infield and outfield positions and punish left-handed pitching, remains sidelined while recovering from a shoulder injury that has progressed slower than initially hoped.

The 28-year-old received a platelet-rich plasma injection in his right shoulder roughly one month ago, a treatment aimed at accelerating healing, but he has yet to resume baseball activities in camp, leaving the Red Sox without clarity on his realistic timeline for a full return.

With Opening Day now just over a month away, it becomes increasingly difficult to envision González being fully ready unless he experiences rapid improvement in both strength and mobility, and Boston must now confront the possibility that their most versatile defensive chess piece may not be available to start the regular season.

His absence would have ripple effects across the roster, as González provides an unusual combination of defensive range, compact power, and strong platoon value, posting standout splits against lefties that manager Alex Cora frequently leveraged in late-inning matchups throughout 2025.

Replacing that skill set is no simple task, especially since Boston’s lineup construction often relies on versatility to rotate players across multiple defensive positions depending on pitching matchups, ballpark dimensions, and rest schedules.

Fortunately for the Red Sox, internal depth may provide an answer, as infielder Andruw Monasterio has emerged as a legitimate “under-the-radar option” to step into González’s spot if needed, according to reporting from The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey.

Monasterio, acquired in the Caleb Durbin trade from the Milwaukee Brewers, has made an immediate impression in camp through his defensive versatility and strong early-spring work across multiple infield positions.

The 28-year-old right-handed hitter has participated in drills at first base, second base, third base, and shortstop during the first two weeks of camp, showing a level of adaptability that mirrors the way González used to move seamlessly around the field.

Cora has publicly praised Monasterio’s preparation, footwork, and baseball IQ multiple times, an encouraging sign for a player who arrived with little fanfare but has quickly earned meaningful opportunities to showcase his value.

Offensively, Monasterio posted an .837 OPS against left-handed pitching in 2025, albeit in a small 50-plate-appearance sample, but the performance was strong enough to suggest that he can at least hold his own against southpaws, even if he does not fully replicate González’s production in that area.

His overall 2025 line of .270/.319/.437 with four home runs and 16 RBIs in 68 games for the Brewers offers further evidence that he may be more than just a depth piece, instead profiling as a potential multi-position contributor capable of lengthening Boston’s bench.

For a team that values flexibility, discipline, and the ability to adapt on the fly, Monasterio represents the type of player who can stabilize the roster in the short term while González works back to full strength.

The uncertainty surrounding González’s recovery also adds pressure to Boston’s broader roster-building approach, as the Red Sox spent the offseason reconstructing portions of their infield depth chart and will need reliable coverage if injuries accumulate early in the season.

Boston’s front office, led by chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, has repeatedly emphasized the importance of building a roster that can withstand short-term injuries without compromising long-term competitiveness, and Monasterio’s emergence fits neatly into that philosophy.

As spring training progresses, the Red Sox will closely monitor González’s recovery, focusing specifically on whether his shoulder strength improves without setbacks once he begins ramping up throwing and hitting activities.

Should he require additional time, Boston may face decisions not only about who makes the Opening Day roster but also about how to reassign responsibilities among current infielders such as Vaughn Grissom, Ceddanne Rafaela, Enmanuel Valdez, and Triston Casas to ensure defensive coverage remains intact.

Moreover, the Red Sox will need to determine whether Monasterio should assume a pure utility role or serve in a more specialized capacity based on matchups, ballpark tendencies, and overall depth construction as the regular season begins.

González’s value most clearly surfaces when examining Boston’s offensive performance against left-handed pitchers last season, as his combination of bat speed and compact swing mechanics allowed him to excel in situations where the lineup often thinned out.

His ability to play second base, shortstop, third base, the corner outfield spots, and even fill emergency roles when injuries struck made him one of the roster’s most flexible pieces, and Boston’s staff has made no secret of the fact that replacing that blend of traits will require multiple players contributing in different ways.

This is why Monasterio’s rise has been met with enthusiasm rather than surprise, as his defensive comfort, contact ability, and improved approach at the plate give Boston a realistic path to covering the gap until González is healthy.

If the Red Sox proceed cautiously with González — as early signs suggest they may — Monasterio’s role could become significant rather quickly, especially during the season’s opening month when teams frequently adjust lineups and rotations before settling into long-term patterns.

For now, Boston’s focus remains on ensuring González’s recovery is deliberate and not rushed, as shoulder injuries can easily worsen or lead to compensatory issues if pushed prematurely.

The team understands that the ultimate goal is to have González healthy for the majority of the 2026 season, not merely for Opening Day, and that patience now may be the best path to productive months later.

In the meantime, the Red Sox will continue evaluating Monasterio’s spring performance, considering his defensive reliability, swing decisions, and comfort at multiple positions as they shape their early roster structure.

If his strong early impressions translate into consistent March performance, he may become not only a temporary replacement but also a long-term depth asset capable of earning meaningful playing time throughout the season.

For a team with October aspirations and a roster built around athleticism and defensive flexibility, Monasterio’s emergence may ultimately prove to be one of the quiet but impactful developments of Boston’s spring — and exactly the type of reinforcement they need while Romy González works his way back.