Why Romy Gonzalez Was Left Off the Red Sox Postseason Roster

Red Sox manager Chad Tracy explained why lefty masher Romy Gonzalez was not included for the Wild Card series against New York.

by Ezra Lombardi

Sep 29, 2026

Boston Red Sox first baseman Romy Gonzalez (23) takes batting practice before game one of the Wildcard round of the 2025 MLB playoffs against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The Boston Red Sox announced their Wild Card round postseason roster on Tuesday ahead of their Game 1 matchup against the New York Yankees.

The team features 14 position players and 12 pitchers and has very little by way of surprises outside of Garrett Crochet’s return straight from the injured list. One roster candidate that did not make the cut was Romy Gonzalez, who hasn’t been with the big league club since July but became an intriguing option off the bench to replace the slumping Andruw Monasterio.

But with Monasterio and Isiah Kiner-Falefa getting the nods as utility infielders behind second baseman Nick Sogard, many wondered why the Red Sox wouldn’t opt for the higher upside choice in Gonzalez.

Manager Chad Tracy provided some insight on this front during Tuesday’s media availability, explaining that Gonzalez is still “banged up” from an injury that occurred in Triple-A, per Tim Healey of The Boston Globe.

Gonzalez rushed back from shoulder surgery earlier this year to provide some pop for a skidding Red Sox club at the end of June. But the 30-year-old clearly suffered from a short rehab stint, returning after just six rehab games and struggling to a 12-for-65 line with a .572 OPS in 19 games.

Going down to Worcester for a reset on August 4, Gonzalez found his stride and slashed .321/.378/.481 with three homers and 22 RBI through 28 games. In early September, he missed five games with a hyperextended elbow but quickly returned to his slugging ways and insisted he was feeling good and would be ready to contribute when and if he got the call back to Boston.

But the call never came, and as Tracy points out, health was the biggest reason why. Tracy did say that Gonzalez would be “very much in play” if the Red Sox were to advance past New York to the ALDS.

Gonzalez was a bright spot for Boston a year ago, batting .305 with a .826 OPS in 96 games as one of the team’s right-handed slugging specialists. He struggled, however, in the Wild Card round against the Yankees this time last year, going just 1-for-9 as he battled through the shoulder injury.

With Jahmai Jones serving as the club’s designated lefty masher off the bench this year, the Red Sox won’t push Gonzalez to play through a similar issue as he did a season ago. But if they are able to continue playing in October, he is certainly an important piece to keep an eye on.