The Boston Red Sox are knocking on the door of a .500 record and have one more shot to get there as they square off against the Tampa Bay Rays in Wednesday’s series finale. After a humbling 16-1 blowout in the opener, Boston bounced back in style Tuesday night with a gritty 7-4 win, fueled by Alex Bregman’s explosive performance — two home runs and four RBIs to even the series.
But fans hoping for another Bregman show will have to wait. According to MLB.com’s Ian Browne, the star third baseman is heading back to Boston — not for baseball, but for something far more important: the birth of his second child. As much as the Red Sox will miss his bat, some things are simply bigger than the game.
With Bregman hitting the paternity list, the Red Sox wasted no time naming his stand-in. Per Chris Cotillo of MassLive, infielder Nick Sogard is getting the call-up from Triple-A Worcester to take Bregman’s place on the roster for Wednesday’s finale.
The 27-year-old Sogard, who was acquired from the Rays in 2021, hasn’t exactly been lighting it up at the plate this season — hitting just .159 with four RBIs over 12 games. However, he’s no stranger to the big-league spotlight. Last season, Sogard logged over 55 innings at third base for Boston without committing a single error, notching 15 assists and helping turn three double plays.
Offensively, he showed promise too. In 77 at-bats under manager Alex Cora, Sogard hit a respectable .273 with eight RBIs, seven walks, and three steals — numbers that hint at his potential to contribute when it matters.
With Boston entering the finale as slight underdogs (+118 on FanDuel Sportsbook), they’ll need every bit of that potential to shine. It’s a tall task, but Sogard’s steady glove and flashes of offensive upside could be just what the Sox need to wrap this series on a high note.
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