BOSTON — The Red Sox put Justin Slaten on the injured list Monday with an oblique strain and recalled Tyler Samaniego from Triple-A Worcester to take his place in the bullpen. If Samaniego gets into a game, the left-hander will be making his big-league debut.
Slaten said the injury popped up during his outing on Saturday, but the team does not believe it is significant and has not scheduled imaging. Even so, the move removes one of Boston’s more reliable right-handed relief options and opens the door for Samaniego, who had been working his way into the picture after a strong spring training.
Samaniego arrived in Boston in December as part of the trade that sent Jhostynxon Garcia to Pittsburgh, with Johan Oviedo and Adonys Guzman also coming back to the Red Sox. Boston drafted the lefty from the Pirates in the 15th round in 2021, and his path has already included some sharp turns. He posted a 2.45 ERA with 14 saves in 38 appearances between High-A and Double-A in his first full professional season, struggled in a repeat run at Double-A in 2023, then missed time in 2024 with an elbow injury.
He opened this season with Worcester after allowing no earned runs over 5 1/3 innings in spring training, then gave up two earned runs over three appearances before the call-up. He also finished 2025 with a 3.99 ERA across 38.1 innings at four minor league levels, a reminder that Boston is betting on a left-hander who has already shown he can adjust and come back. For now, he gives the club a fourth lefty in the bullpen alongside Aroldis Chapman, Danny Coulombe and Jovani Moran.
The timing matters because Slaten has already spent nearly three months on the shelf last year with shoulder inflammation and also missed time in 2024 with elbow inflammation. He said the latest setback adds to a frustrating pattern, saying, “This is the third year that I’ve had to miss time,” and, “I can promise you like no one’s more upset or feels worse about than me. Part of our job is to be healthy for 162.” The Red Sox are calling this a short-term absence, but the next few days will tell whether their bullpen shuffle stays temporary or becomes the start of another stretch without Slaten.
