Red Sox place newcomer Curtis Mead on injured list with wrist fracture
Curtis Mead suffered a fractured left wrist in his second at-bat for Boston and was placed on the injured list, with recovery expected to take four to six weeks.
Less than a day after making his debut with the Boston Red Sox, right-handed prospect Curtis Mead was placed on the injured list after an MRI confirmed a fracture in his left wrist. The injury occurred in the top of the fourth inning of a 4-2 win, when a 94.9 mph fastball from Jack Perkins struck Mead, forcing him to leave the game in the fifth inning. Initial X-rays were negative, but a follow-up MRI on Tuesday revealed the break.
Mead said he woke up “pretty stiff and sore” and noted a similar situation in 2023 when X-rays missed a fracture that was later identified by MRI. He added that it was “challenging” and “disappointing” to be sidelined after his first game, but expressed hope for a swift recovery. The team will assess whether surgery is required during a specialist’s visit on Wednesday.
Interim manager Chad Tracy called the injury “tough, especially for the kid,” and emphasized the club’s focus on getting Mead healthy for the future. The Red Sox have been dealing with a series of infield injuries this season, including setbacks to Trevor Story, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and Marcelo Mayer, as well as other roster ailments.
Mead, acquired from the Washington Nationals in a trade that also sent left-hander Connelly Early to Boston, was expected to bat second and play second base as part of the team’s push for the postseason. The club remains in the second AL wild-card spot after a recent stretch of strong performance.