ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Red Sox left fielder Hanley Ramirez was sent back to Boston on Sunday to get further testing on his bruised left hand and he could land on the disabled list as soon as Monday.
Ramirez was hit by a line drive while running the bases Wednesday. He has not played since or tried to take batting practice. The Sox initially were hopeful he would miss only a few days.
“He’s still feeling some discomfort in the hand where he got hit,” manager John Farrell said. “I think at this time [Monday] we’ll get a better read on his roster status and exactly if there’s anything in addition to what was determined with the CT scan and the X-rays.
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“Unfortunately he’s not progressing as we anticipated, particularly over the last 24-48 hours.”
The testing in Boston will include an MRI.
Ramirez has a bruise on the back of his hand and the swelling has kept him from being able to swing a bat.
Ramirez missed an average of 46 games from 2011-14, landing on the disabled list four times. He has hit .283 with an .812 OPS in 67 games for the Sox since being signed to a four-year, $88 million deal.
Alejandro De Aza has started the last four games in left field in place of Ramirez and performed well, going 6 for 15 with three home runs, a double, six RBIs, and four runs scored.
De Aza was 2 for 4 with a homer in Sunday’s 5-3 victory against the Rays. Since being obtained from the Orioles on June 3, De Aza has hit .288 with 11 RBIs in 19 games. The Sox are 8-6 in games he has started.
Hanigan nears return
The Red Sox are planning to activate catcher Ryan Hanigan from the disabled list in Toronto on Wednesday, the first day he is eligible.
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“We could possibly see him in that day game,” Farrell said.
Hanigan has been out since May 2 with a broken finger on his right hand. He has played five minor league games and on Saturday caught nine innings for Double A Portland.
Hanigan was scheduled to play for the Sea Dogs again Sunday, but the game was postponed by rain.
Because he was out two months, Hanigan won’t be the everyday catcher right away. The Sox have been using rookie Blake Swihart as their primary catcher with Sandy Leon as the backup.
Leon, who is out of minor league options, has been the personal catcher of Clay Buchholz and drawn praise for his defensive work, but he is hitting .160 with one extra-base hit in 75 at-bats.
“It’s a situation where you look at the catching tandem as a splitting of time,” Farrell said. “Then you start to balance what are the offensive contributions. All things combined: the defensive side of it, the game-calling, the offensive capability. There are a number of things that will be factored into who remains.”
Napoli is ejected
On a day when the Red Sox had only two position players available off the bench, Mike Napoli was ejected for arguing balls and strikes in the second inning.
Napoli took a full-count slider for a called third strike by Tripp Gibson. Pitchf/x data showed the ball was off the outside corner.
Napoli complained about the call, although not demonstrably. As he walked away, Gibson ejected him.
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According to Napoli, he dropped his bat at the plate believing he had walked and was ejected for not picking it up.
“I started taking off my batting gloves and started to walk back to the dugout and he told me I forgot my bat,” Napoli said. “I kind of stopped a little bit and then he told me to come pick up my bat. I pointed at the bat boy who picks up our bats and he tossed me.”
Said Farrell: “I think we all have an issue with that.”
Napoli threw his arms up and confronted Gibson before Farrell pulled him away. Gibson became a full-time umpire for the first time this season.
“It’s kind of embarrassing. I don’t know how you can throw someone out for that. I’m not trying to get thrown out in the second inning. We have a short bench,” Napoli said.
“I didn’t do anything wrong to get tossed there. Maybe it’s a rookie mistake, a young-guy mistake [by Gibson].”
Napoli, who has struck out 70 times in 237 at-bats, believes umpires have expanded the strike zone.
“It’s frustrating and I’m going to keep battling. But something’s got to give,” he said
It was the fourth career ejection for Napoli, the second this season.
Marrero makes debut
When Napoli was tossed, Brock Holt moved from second base to first base and Deven Marrero made his major league debut, coming in to play second.
Marrero, who is from Miami, had his mother, two sisters, and other family and friends at the game. The group included the family of Kansas City first baseman Eric Hosmer, a high school teammate and Marrero’s closest friend.
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“Pretty special day in my life,” Marrero said. “I was so glad they were here to see it.”
Marrero was 0 for 3, but saved a run in the eighth inning with a diving stop to get Brandon Guyer with two outs and a runner on second.
Sunday was only the sixth time Marrero ever has played second base. He was a shortstop through high school, college, and the minors until recently playing some games at second for Triple A Pawtucket.
“That was awesome. First ball I get and it’s a big spot in the game,” Marrero said. “I was able to help us win.”
Marrero played at Arizona State, as did Dustin Pedroia.
“I knew he’d make that play,” said Pedroia, who is on the disabled list. “You can put an ASU guy anywhere on the field.”
Fourth out
With two outs and a runner on third base in the bottom of the ninth inning, Evan Longoria flied to right field. Jackie Bradley Jr., believing the catch was the second out, made a throw to the plate. Koji Uehara cut the ball off as he went to shake hands with Swihart . . . Shane Victorino played his fourth game with Pawtucket, going 1 for 4 as a DH against Gwinnett. The PawSox won, 3-2, in 11 innings. Victorino, on the DL with a calf strain, is 4 for 13 in four games. Joe Kelly made his first start for Pawtucket, going seven innings. He allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and one walk. Kelly struck out four.
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Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter@PeteAbe.