Time was that MLB players who were dealing with injuries could give an estimate on just how that injury was progressing based on a percentage of how they normally feel when fully healthy. So a knee or back problem could be summed up by a rough guess based on the amount of pain the player was feeling from the offending injury.
How’s the back feeling?
About 75%.
That sort of thing. But as science drills down on the basics of injuries, we’re now in a place in which the percentage of health that a player is at can be measured through technology. And that’s what the Red Sox are using to monitor the very stubborn calf injury suffered by outfielder Wilyer Abreu, who was only supposed to be out a matter of days but has now been out for nearly a month.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora revealed on Saturday just how close Abreu is to a return–he’s at 86%. Cora said the Red Sox are willing to get Abreu back with 90% of a healthy calf, which means he has just 4% to go, putting his return sometimes next week.
Wilyer Abreu ‘Ran at 86%’
Cora explained before the Red Sox resumed their series against the Yankees :
“We’re shooting at one point next week. I’m not sure if it’s the Athletics or Tampa. But it seems like he’s feeling a lot better. Yesterday he ran at 86%. Like I said, getting to 90% is good enough for us. So we’ll just have to wait and see.”
The team fits Abreu with what is called a Catapult vest, and the vest provides the biological markers to determine Abreu’s relative health.
As Cora previously explained: “Talking to [manager of player development] Kiyoshi [Momose], there’s a few more things that he needs to do. Hopefully get him up to 90% as far as the effort, and when we get there, he will probably be back with us.”
Red Sox Would Get a Big Boost with an Abreu Return
The Red Sox have been struggling with injuries lately, and they’ve had to piece together a workable rotation in the outfield, with both Anthony and Abreu out. Rob Refsnyder and Nate Eaton have been filling in since Anthony went down.
In his third season, Abreu has had a productive year, hitting .253 with a career-best 22 homers and an .811 OPS. That OPS ranks fifth on the team and, combined with his status as a Gold Glove right fielder, an Abreu return would be a big lift.
Injured Red Sox Star Still 4% Short of Making Return to Lineup