If you watched the Boston Red Sox bring the slumping Bobby Dalbec off the bench to pinch-hit for light-hitting center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. on Thursday night, you're well aware they could use some lineup depth.
Kiké Hernandez should provide an offensive boost soon -- just not in the immediate future.
The Red Sox utility man received a PRP injection Friday to help accelerate healing in his injured right hip flexor, according to MassLive.com's Chris Cotillo. Per Cotillo, Hernandez will "ramp up activity" after the All-Star break, which ends next Friday.
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Hernandez has been on the injured list since June 8 and began a rehab stint with Triple-A Worcester last Friday but felt tightness in his hip after the game, forcing him to return to Boston for additional treatment.
"He said that after the game, he felt tight in the same spot," manager Alex Cora said of Hernandez. "He was able to take his at-bats and do whatever he did, but after the game he didn’t feel great."
Hernandez had been scuffling prior to his injury with a .209 batting average, four home runs and 24 RBIs through his first 51 games. But the Red Sox are well aware of how Hernandez can help the team when he's hot: The 30-year-old batted .408 with five home runs in 11 postseason games for Boston last season.
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It sounds like Hernandez won't return to action for at least another week or two, so the Red Sox will need to hope that Jarren Duran and Bradley can boost their production in the outfield until he returns.