Carl Crawford Injury: Red Sox Outfielder Has Sprained Ligament In Elbow

CHICAGO — Carl Crawford has a sprained ligament in his throwing elbow and the Boston Red Sox left fielder will remain sidelined for a while.

The team released a statement Thursday night saying Crawford's diagnosis was made by the Red Sox medical staff and confirmed by Dr. James Andrews. Crawford received a Platelet Rich Plasma injection and will be shut down from baseball activity "during the initial phase of his treatment."

The club did not announce a timetable for Crawford's return, but he is expected to miss at least another month or two – maybe more.

The Red Sox were already short-handed in the outfield because of an injury to All-Star center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury, who finished second in the voting for AL MVP last season. Ellsbury is expected to be out until June because of a right shoulder injury sustained against Tampa Bay on April 13.

Boston acquired outfielder Marlon Byrd from the Chicago Cubs on Saturday to help fill the void. Byrd hit just .070 (3 for 43) with Chicago, but collected his fifth hit in four games for the Red Sox on Thursday night against the White Sox.

Crawford was largely viewed as a disappointment last year when he hit .255 with 11 homers, 56 RBIs and 18 stolen bases in his first season with Boston after signing a $142 million, seven-year contract as a free agent. He is yet to play in the big leagues this season.

Over the previous eight seasons, the 30-year-old Crawford hit above .300 five times for Tampa Bay, leading the American League in stolen bases four times. In his last season before coming to Boston, he batted .307 with a career-high 19 homers, drove in 90 runs and stole 47 bases.

Crawford also was shut down during spring training after experiencing inflammation that stemmed from offseason surgery on his left wrist. He remained at the team's training complex in Florida after the club broke camp and participated in extended spring training games.

When the soreness in his left elbow lingered, Crawford traveled to Birmingham, Ala., to be examined by Andrews, a noted specialist in elbow injuries.

Crawford was diagnosed with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament.

Lars Anderson, normally a first baseman, started in left field for Boston against the White Sox on Thursday night. Anderson played 571 of his 578 minor league games and his first 25 big league games at first base.

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Comments

[dpcemker]

01:34 AM on 04/30/2012

red sux xuck axx and everyone knows it..... they talj xhit about how much money the one and only "The New York Yankees" spend and they are close to spend the same amount with nothing to show for. they are nothing but a disgrace ans long live the Yankees.....

[Steveh0607]

11:03 AM on 04/29/2012

Thanks Theo. Cubbies beware.

[pfm102943]

11:46 AM on 04/28/2012

The Red Sox need better scouts. Picking up players with a past of injuries only tells me that the current scouts aren;t doing their homework. Lastly whoever is doing the pitching scouting seems to have a handicap of their own, being blind and gullible doesn't help either.

[papa4311]

09:57 AM on 04/28/2012

What a waste of money,Tampa knew what they were doing. Another reason to beat Tampa

[Deborah Thomas Welch]

10:30 PM on 04/27/2012

yankees suck nyc is a dump

[papa4311]

09:58 AM on 04/28/2012

They double suck

[johnnyd56]

12:24 PM on 04/28/2012

who's in last place Bo-suckers,, hope Tony V. can manage a sinking ship,cause thats where you knuckle-heads will be for a while,, Yankees rule, and Bo-suckers just suck,, (Double- SUCK,, HAHAHAHAHA)

[johnnyd56]

12:31 PM on 04/28/2012

and Boston is Paradise? I'v been to nicer bathrooms in Harlem,, Lol, you guys have Charlestown,, really nice,, cant wait to buy a condo there,,, (yeah,, Right)

[onehenry]

09:17 PM on 04/27/2012

Crawford is still young and chances are he will return to his normal self. I hated when he got on base but at least I can relax for a few months. I would rather beat Boston with their best team on the field, it leaves out any excuses and it makes the game more exciting.

[SimianNation]

07:58 PM on 04/27/2012

A score of 15 to 9 on the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park. One of the greatest days in baseball history.

[SimianNation]

07:56 PM on 04/27/2012

Go Yankees!

[sandhillsrider]

02:45 PM on 04/27/2012

Ray's fans hated to see Crawford leave. So far they have been doing OK without him. As far as him saying his "Heart was in Boston" For $142 million I would change my name to Lady GaGa.

[onlyaquarterdelusional]

11:34 PM on 04/27/2012

For $142 million I would dress like her. Warning, I would be ugly as hell and about 7 feet tall in her heels but I sure would enjoy retirement.

[Leon Engelun]

02:42 PM on 04/27/2012

no big deal. They can win without him. They just swept the Twins.

[SimianNation]

07:56 PM on 04/27/2012

The Twins...hahahahhha.

[phdjinc]

02:30 PM on 04/27/2012

getting pretty sick and tired about all the negativity surrounding the Bosox.
Bobby V must go!
Terry F must return!
Until then, I'm having a hard time watching them play.

[mnm2325]

06:46 PM on 04/27/2012

yes! yes! yes! the red sox have made some stupid moves, but letting franconia go was the worst!! i still love them but would love to see bobby out and terry back.

[papa4311]

09:59 AM on 04/28/2012

Sounds like you are no fan,give them a chance

[Corey Pajka]

02:12 PM on 04/27/2012

I am SO glad the Yankees dodged this bullet. Unfortunately, now they're dealing with Michael Pineda.

[thejester39]

01:37 PM on 04/27/2012

Glad to hear. Makes me happy that the Yankees didn't get him. Enjoy your damaged goods Red Sux. We're enjoying ours in Pineda. But at least we didnt pay him more money than he's worth! Red Sux will finish in the bottom of the division this year. Where they belong!

[Joe man]

05:18 AM on 04/28/2012

You guys just traded your best hitting prospect for someone with a wrecked shoulder.

Ah, well, Crawford clearly is one of the worst signings in baseball history.

[thejester39]

06:01 AM on 04/28/2012

There was so much hype and fanfare with Montero, then they trade him for an unproven pitcher with a bum shoulder. I think Cashmans best days are behind him. Time for some change if they dont produce!

[Dewts]

01:05 PM on 04/27/2012

this sucks. crawford is a real talent, he's no coco crips.

[floodmfx]

12:16 PM on 04/27/2012

Living in the Tampa area - I have seen Crawford play many times.
The guy has super-star potential - he had it here.

There is something poisonous in Boston lately.
A team of dysfunctional divas.

[chiodo08]

01:08 PM on 04/27/2012

me as well...I see it as karma. They didn't need him. His skills don't add anything with that short left field and he STILL won't bat lead off. It was a cynical jab by the Sox IMO...and his press conference extorting about how his "heart was in Boston" was a huge slap in the face to a team/market that brought him up, paid him and let him dictate where he wanted to bat...NOPE I think this as karma 101...at the end of the day Carl could have gone to Anaheim but made less and Boston playing the game the Yankees have done to them came back to bite them both....

[Tasies]

01:10 PM on 04/27/2012

Not Mike Aviles, he's raking