Alex Bregman doesn’t handle life on the injured list well.
“It’s terrible to be spectating,” said Bregman, who has been out since May 24 with a right quadriceps strain, before the Red Sox’ 13-6 win over the Reds Monday night. “I hate it. I want to be playing every day. I want to be out there competing.”
He said an ultrasound on Sunday showed he’s “healing exceptionally well,” and backed that with an aggressive day of straight-line running on Monday. He’s resumed hitting, fielding, and throwing.
Though Bregman said he’d defer to the team for a timetable on the next steps, he also suggested that his recovery continues to significantly outpace what he experienced in 2021, when he missed 10 weeks because of a comparable left quad strain.
“This is a lot of weeks ahead of what we predicted,” said Bregman. “We’re kind of taking it day-by-day when it comes to that, because obviously you don’t want to rush it too much, but we’re very far ahead of where we thought we’d be at this point.”
Bregman wasn’t sure whether a rehab assignment is within reach — or if he’ll need one. The third baseman, who was hitting .299/.385/.553 with 11 homers, said it’s possible he could get activated and build his workload in the big leagues, a sort of midyear version of spring training.
“I think all options are on the table, really, whether it’s going on a rehab assignment or not going on one, and just going straight to playing up here and maybe kind of easing the way back in at this level,” said Bregman, who didn’t rule out the idea of coming off the injured list before the All-Star break. “It’s honestly whatever they want me to do.”
Manager Alex Cora suggested Bregman’s self-assessment should come with a proverbial grain of salt given his desperation to return to the field. Still, Bregman is close enough that he believes he may soon go from spectating to contributing.
“We have a great chance to win here. We have guys that are very capable of winning at this level and winning for a long time at this level. We’ve just got to play better. It’s that simple,” he said. “I’m looking forward to getting back and doing my part.”
Garcia recognized
Outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia, the No. 6 Red Sox prospect by Baseball America, will represent the organization at the All-Star Futures Game in Atlanta. The 22-year-old is hitting .275/.359/.486 with 12 homers, including .292/.363/.569 with nine homers in 33 games since being promoted to Triple A Worcester. He’s also shown stylish glovework in the outfield.
“Everything is smooth — suave,” said lefthander Chris Murphy, who’d been playing with Garcia in Worcester in recent weeks. “He’s making Willie Mays catches. I gave up one the other day and was like, ‘That might be a double, the way he’s jogging to it. Is he playing it off the wall?’ Then he [caught it] over his shoulder.”
Offensively?
“Bat-to-ball is there and the power is there, too,” said Murphy. “Good ballplayer.”
“Garcia is a complete player,” added Cora. “We’re very proud of him.”
Yoshida joins Worcester
Masataka Yoshida will start a rehab assignment on Tuesday for the WooSox. Cora said Yoshida is expected to DH for two games and then play the outfield on Thursday. With the WooSox hitting the road on the Fourth of July, Yoshida is likely to continue his rehab over the weekend with Double A Portland.
Buehler baffled
Though Walker Buehler has a 10.38 ERA in his last six starts, Cora reiterated that the righthander is on track to make his next start Saturday in Washington. The manager talked with the pitcher on Sunday evening — after allowing four runs in four innings — and the two eventually agreed that his stuff has been more promising but a lack of execution and command has led to awful results.
“We are close. We see glimpses,” said Cora, who cited an inability to close out batters in two-strike counts as a key shortcoming. “We’ll keep working. We’re not giving up. This guy means a lot to us. We made a huge commitment in the offseason. He bet on himself. Right now, it doesn’t look like [he’s pitching to expectations] but I truly believe it will.”
Hicks makes Sox debut
Righthander Jordan Hicks was activated from the injured list and pitched a scoreless eighth inning. His first pitch registered at 100 m.p.h. “We’ve got velo in the bullpen,” Cora noted in reference to Hicks and Aroldis Chapman. “It’s something we didn’t have for a while there.” To make room for Hicks, the Sox optioned righthander Zack Kelly (5.56 ERA, 24 percent strikeout rate) to Triple A … Marcelo Mayer, who was away from the team over the weekend, returned from the bereavement list. Nick Sogard was returned to Triple A … Righthander Hunter Dobbins threw a bullpen session on Monday, a possible prelude to a rehab assignment … Prior to Monday’s game against the Sox, the Reds placed righthander Ian Gibaut on the IL with a right shoulder impingement and recalled righty Joe La Sorsa from Triple A.
Alex Speier can be reached at alex.speier@globe.com. Follow him @alexspeier.