The Boston Red Sox are placing newly acquired infielder Curtis Mead on the 10-day injured list with a broken left wrist, sources told Tommy Cassell of Worcester T&G Sports.
A timetable for his return isn't immediately known.
Mead suffered the injury in his first game with the Red Sox, who acquired the 25-year-old from the Washington Nationals for left-hander Connelly Early on Saturday. He was hit in the wrist by Athletics pitcher Jack Perkins' 95-mph fastball in the fourth inning but stayed in the contest to run the bases and play defense before being removed one inning later.
(Video source: MLB.com)
Initial X-rays taken Monday night returned negative. However, further evaluation Tuesday led the team to place Mead on the IL, according to Alex Speier of the Boston Globe.
"I was kinda thinking, walking to the clubhouse ... just super disappointed," Mead told reporters after Monday's game. "I wanted to come here and help the team, and wanted to play. So yeah, it's frustrating."
The injury halts the Australian's breakout season. Before Saturday's trade, Mead was hitting .254/.352/.500 with 17 homers, 48 RBIs, and six steals in 87 games with Washington. The Nats had acquired him from the Chicago White Sox three days into the season.
Mead's setback also muddies the waters for a Red Sox team that's pushed itself back into a playoff spot with a red-hot July despite missing a plethora of key players. Mead joins the likes of Roman Anthony, Trevor Story, and Garrett Crochet, among others, on the IL.
Mead, who has experience at multiple infield spots, was expected to play second base for Boston down the stretch. Romy Gonzalez drew into the lineup at the keystone Tuesday against the A's, and he could see more playing time there going forward. Nick Sogard and Anthony Seigler are also potential second base options for interim manager Chad Tracy.
Sogard, who's appeared in 12 games for Boston this year, is being recalled from Triple-A Worcester in a corresponding move. He isn't expected to join the Red Sox in West Sacramento until Wednesday, meaning the team may have to play one man short against the A's on Tuesday night, according to Speier.
