Red Sox's Romy Gonzalez Faces Uncertain Availability for Opening Day

Utility player received PRP injection for shoulder soreness, still not cleared for baseball activities.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Boston Red Sox utility man Romy Gonzalez is facing uncertainty heading into the 2026 season after receiving a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection to address shoulder soreness. Manager Alex Cora said Gonzalez's shoulder issue made for a "difficult offseason" and he is still not cleared to do any baseball activities beyond playing catch. Gonzalez originally injured the shoulder in the final series of the 2025 season, which impacted his performance in the playoffs. The Red Sox are hopeful Gonzalez will be ready for the team's Opening Day series against the Cincinnati Reds on March 26, but his status remains unclear.

Why it matters

Gonzalez's injury is a concern for the Red Sox as they look to rebound from a disappointing 2025 season. As a versatile utility player, Gonzalez's availability could impact the team's lineup flexibility and depth heading into the new year. The uncertainty around his recovery timeline also raises questions about the Red Sox's roster construction and preparedness for the start of the 2026 campaign.

The details

Gonzalez received the PRP injection roughly three weeks ago, but he is still not cleared to do any baseball activities beyond playing catch. Red Sox manager Alex Cora said the injection "takes time" to start working and that Gonzalez's shoulder issue "made this a difficult offseason" for the 29-year-old. Gonzalez originally injured the shoulder in the final series of the 2025 regular season against the Detroit Tigers, which impacted his performance in the Red Sox's Wild Card series loss to the New York Yankees, where he went 1-for-9 with three strikeouts.

  • Gonzalez received the PRP injection roughly three weeks ago.
  • Gonzalez originally injured the shoulder in the final series of the 2025 regular season against the Detroit Tigers.
  • The Red Sox are set to open the 2026 season against the Cincinnati Reds on March 26.

The players

Romy Gonzalez

A 29-year-old utility player for the Boston Red Sox who is dealing with a shoulder injury that has left his availability for the start of the 2026 season uncertain.

Alex Cora

The manager of the Boston Red Sox who provided an update on Gonzalez's injury status and recovery timeline.

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What they’re saying

“Shoulder issue made this a difficult offseason for (Romy) Gonzalez.”

— Alex Cora, Manager, Boston Red Sox (Boston Herald)

What’s next

The Red Sox will continue to monitor Gonzalez's recovery and progress in the coming weeks leading up to Opening Day. The team is hopeful he will be ready to go for the start of the season, but his status remains uncertain.

The takeaway

Gonzalez's shoulder injury is a concerning development for the Red Sox as they look to bounce back in 2026. As a versatile utility player, his availability could have a significant impact on the team's roster construction and lineup flexibility. The uncertainty around his recovery timeline underscores the challenges the Red Sox face in getting their roster fully healthy and prepared for the start of the new season.