TAMPA — Wilyer Abreu had hoped to be activated Saturday after flying from Boston to here, but discovered the Red Sox were determined to wait another day.
And at this point, after missing almost exactly one month with a calf strain, what’s another day…or two?
“Most likely tomorrow,” said Alex Cora of Abreu’s pending activation.
“I’m very happy,” said Abreu after doing some pregame running at George Steinbrenner Field. “I’m just waiting for them to tell me to play.”
As one last checkpoint, Abreu ran the bases at Fenway Friday, then flew to Tampa Saturday morning. But the Red Sox determined that a flight and some additional on-field work both Friday and Saturday here was sufficient enough work for one day.
Once he is added to the active roster, Abreu is confident that he can play as much as the team asks of him.
“I’m ready to play the rest of the games and the playoffs, too,” he said. “I’m ready to go and happy to be here and be with the team. If they need me in the outfield, I’ll be ready for that. I’ll be ready for DH, too — whatever Alex wants.
“The most important thing is, I feel healthy and ready to go.”
Abreu was first placed on the IL Aug. 21, retroactive to Aug. 18, so his time lost will be almost exactly a month. That was far from the expectation when the injury first was diagnosed. In fact, at the time the injury first cropped up, the Sox were publicly hopeful that he could avoid the IL altogether.
“It was tough,” he acknowledged. “I didn’t expect to be out for this long. But now I’m ready, so that’s the most important thing.”
He’ll be returning to action without the benefit of a rehab assignment, but isn’t worried about his readiness to face live pitching.
“I’ve been hitting a lot and hitting lot against Trajekt (a pitching machine that simulates various pitches and deliveries),” he said. “I think that kept me ready for games, so I think I’ll be fine.”
Abreu has never taken part in the postseason before and the challenge of taking part in the playoffs has him primed to experience the October environment.
“I know this is a big deal for us, for the team and for the city,” he said, “so I think when we get there, it’s going to be really fun.”