Yu Chang was all smiles as he sat in the home dugout. Back in the lineup for the first time since fracturing his left hamate bone in late April, the Red Sox shortstop said he hasn’t been this excited to play in a long, long time.
“I feel like coming back the first time I was called up to the major leagues,” Chang said Friday via translator Patrick Chu.
It’s been a long time coming for Chang, who was activated from the 60-day injured list ahead of Friday night’s series opener against the Oakland Athletics. The 27-year-old broke a bone in his hand mid-swing back on April 24, and since then he endured two setbacks that kept him out several weeks longer than originally expected.
Meanwhile, with both Chang and projected starter Trevor Story on the shelf, the heavily depleted Red Sox were forced to rely on a revolving door of replacements. The results haven’t been pretty.
Chang acknowledged that the prolonged recovery process has been difficult, and at times he felt like he needed to rush back to help the team.
“I felt like I needed to hurry and get ready, but my doctors told me to be patient,” Chang said. “The process was pretty boring, I couldn’t do anything other than rehab, so I tried to control my mindset and follow what the doctors told me, to be patient and get ready.”
Chang’s injury wound up being a massive setback — both for the player and team — and it was particularly frustrating given that Chang finally seemed to have found his place after a highly chaotic year.
Last season Chang played for four different big league clubs, first being traded from Pittsburgh to Cleveland before twice being designated for assignment and claimed off waivers, first by Tampa Bay and then by Boston. He was non-tendered by the Red Sox this past offseason but subsequently re-signed as a free agent in mid-February.
Even after that it wound up being several weeks before Chang could re-join his old club. First he spent several weeks competing for Chinese Taipei in the World Baseball Classic, earning Pool A Most Valuable Player honors after going 7-for-16 with two doubles, two homers and eight RBI. He then encountered visa problems that prevented him from reporting to Fort Myers until late March, limiting him to only two spring training games.
Chang then went hitless in his first nine games to start the season, but starting on April 15 he found his groove and briefly became one of Boston’s most impactful all-around players. He hit three home runs with eight RBI over his last eight games, and more importantly he emerged as a reliable defensive stalwart at shortstop.
“He played well, obviously it’s a small sample size but he was a plus-three defender,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora, referring to Chang’s plus-three defensive runs saved mark. “That series in Milwaukee he was getting into his rhythm, but it’s been such a roller coaster for him.”
Chang originally began his rehab assignment in late May but was shut down after one game. Though the broken bone had been surgically removed, lingering pain remained an issue and a second rehab attempt failed as well in early June.
But now Chang says he’s completely pain-free, and given the club’s recent issues at shortstop he will be given the opportunity to serve as Boston’s starting shortstop right out of the gate.
After everything he’s been through, Chang is ready and eager for the opportunity.
“I’ll provide 100% of Yu Chang and do whatever I can do,” Chang said. “I believe I can help the team.”
Yu Chang’s activation from the injured list was among a flurry of Red Sox roster moves ahead of Friday’s game.
To make room for Chang on the active roster Boston optioned rookie shortstop David Hamilton to Triple-A Worcester, and to clear a spot on the 40-man roster the club designated minor league left-hander Ryan Sherriff for assignment. The club also activated lefty James Paxton from the paternity leave list and placed right-hander Kaleb Ort on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation.
Cora said left-hander Joely Rodriguez (left shoulder inflammation) will likely be activated at some point over the weekend, catcher Reese McGuire (right oblique strain) resumed baseball activities on Thursday and right-hander Corey Kluber (right shoulder inflammation) will throw his first bullpen on Sunday, not on Friday as originally planned.
Right-hander John Schreiber (right teres major strain) reported to Worcester to begin his rehab assignment Friday and is expected to make two appearances this weekend and then at least two more after the All-Star break. Shortstop Trevor Story (right elbow rehab) is also expected to begin his rehab assignment after the break, and Cora said they anticipate he will spend an extended time in the minors working his way back.
Red Sox pitching prospect Brian Van Belle, who has enjoyed a strong start to the season with the Portland Sea Dogs, has been promoted to Triple-A and will make his Worcester Red Sox debut on Saturday at Polar Park against the Syracuse Mets.
The 26-year-old right-hander led Portland in innings pitched (81) and had posted a 3.00 ERA over his first 14 outings, going 6-3 with 69 strikeouts against 25 walks.
Van Belle’s first Triple-A opponent will be a familiar one to local high school fans, as Wellesley’s Mike Vasil, a former BC High and University of Virginia star, will be taking the mound for Syracuse. First pitch at Polar Park is scheduled for 4:05 p.m.