The Boston Red Sox placed veteran right-hander Sonny Gray on the 15-day injured list with a right hamstring strain Tuesday, a day after the 36-year-old left his start against the Detroit Tigers in the third inning during Monday’s Patriots’ Day game at Fenway Park.
Gray, acquired in the offseason to anchor a revamped rotation, had looked sharp in his first two outings of the season before the injury. He cruised through the first two innings against Detroit, allowing just one hit while striking out three. But after walking Gleyber Torres on a 3-2 pitch with two outs in the third, Gray felt a “grab” in his right hamstring and immediately signaled for manager Alex Cora and head athletic trainer Brandon Henry. He was removed after throwing just 40 pitches.
“I threw that last 3-2 pitch, and I felt a grab in my right hamstring,” Gray said after the game. “It’s something that I have felt before. I can honestly say it doesn’t feel like it’s a horrible thing. It’s just something that’s going to take however long it’s going to take to get right.”
The Red Sox officially diagnosed the injury as a right hamstring strain following an MRI on Tuesday and retroactively placed Gray on the IL. To fill the roster spot, Boston recalled left-handed reliever Tyler Samaniego from Triple-A Worcester.
This marks the latest chapter in Gray’s recurring battles with the same hamstring. He missed time with strains in that leg in both 2022 and 2024 while with previous clubs. At 36, the two-time All-Star and former Cy Young finalist has built a reputation as a durable, crafty veteran who relies on precision and a deep repertoire rather than overpowering velocity. Yet these soft-tissue issues have become an unwelcome pattern.
For the Red Sox, the timing is far from ideal. Gray had stabilized the back end of the rotation alongside emerging ace Garrett Crochet, providing the kind of veteran presence that manager Alex Cora had hoped would help a young staff navigate the grind of a full season. His absence forces Boston to reshuffle an already fluid starting group. With Crochet himself sidelined recently by left shoulder inflammation, the club will lean more heavily on depth options such as Brayan Bello, Nick Pivetta (if healthy), and call-up candidates from Worcester.
Gray is eligible to return as early as May 6, provided his recovery stays on track. He threw a bullpen session on April 27 that was described as positive, and the team has expressed optimism that this will not be a long-term absence. Still, the Red Sox will proceed cautiously with a player who has logged more than 1,800 career innings and remains a critical piece of their postseason aspirations.
In the short term, the injury underscores the fragility of even the most experienced arms in a sport that demands near-daily physical excellence. Gray has long been the type of pitcher who eats innings and sets a tone for a clubhouse. His temporary departure leaves a noticeable void—one the Red Sox must fill without losing momentum in what has been an encouraging start to the 2026 campaign.
For now, the focus shifts to Gray’s rehabilitation and the rotation’s ability to hold the fort. In a division that rarely forgives missed opportunities, every start matters. The Red Sox will hope their veteran right-hander is back on the mound sooner rather than later, hamstring willing.
