Romy Gonzalez and his ‘thump in the bat’ nearing return to Red Sox

What if the righthanded hitter the Red Sox have sought has been in the clubhouse all along?

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When Romy Gonzalez begins a rehabilitation assignment with Double-A Portland on Tuesday, he will play mostly second base as well as some first base, in addition to DH, interim manager Chad Tracy said add before the Red Sox dropped Sunday’s series finale to the Rangers, 6-4.

That is with an eye on ensuring that Gonzalez is “involved,” as Tracy put it, seemingly heavily, upon his return to the Red Sox — which could happen as early as their next homestand. They host the Yankees for a four-game set beginning June 25.

“With the power potential and the thump in the bat, we’ve got to get him involved,” Tracy said before the series finale with the Rangers. “It could be [against] lefties, it could be [at] DH, he could play second base. There could be certain righties where it doesn’t make sense [to start Gonzalez]. But whatever it is, we know the capability of the bat and the power potential that brings. We’re going to certainly get him involved.”

Gonzalez, who had surgery on his left shoulder in March, is allowed to play with minor league affiliates for up to 20 days. He said he doesn’t expect to take nearly that long, though, and is targeting 30 plate appearances before returning to the active roster.

In recent days, he has been taking simulated at-bats against Trajekt, a high-tech pitching machine that simulates specific pitchers’ arm angles and pitch movement.

When he is ready, it shouldn’t be too hard for the Red Sox to find playing time for Gonzalez, especially if he performs anywhere close to the level he reached in his breakout 2025.

Against lefthanders, Gonzalez slashed .331/.378/.600. (Against righties, it was a holding-his-own .286/.318/.400.)

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This year, the Sox are hitting .266/.332/.408 against southpaws.

The Red Sox have been using Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Andruw Monasterio at second base lately, so it would be easy to slot Gonzalez in there. DH has been a black hole/motley crew. Willson Contreras plays first base nearly every day, but Gonzalez would be the most capable/experienced backup.

One realm the Sox won’t explore: Gonzalez in the outfield. That had been mentioned in passing over the offseason, before the club realized he would be out for so long. But Tracy said they are all set there.

Newly minted leadoff hitter Mickey Gasper was out of the lineup Sunday — against a righthander, the Rangers’ Nate Eovaldi — because of a tight groin, Tracy said.

Masataka Yoshida hit first and served as the DH instead and went 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored.

“My vision of that was either one of those guys can serve as a leadoff [batter],” Tracy said. “They both are similar profile, so just felt like with a day off tomorrow, let’s do Masa today, let [Gasper] rest, and then we’ll go from there.”

After Brayan Bello pitched for Triple-A Worcester for the first time Saturday — four innings, two runs — a curious Tracy watched video of his outing. His takeaway: “Definitely some positives,” he said, even if the sweeper and changeup remain works in progress . . . Patrick Sandoval’s third rehab start will be with Portland on Wednesday, he said. Tracy noted that Sandoval will throw about 45 pitches . . . Johan Oviedo finally will start a throwing program this week, Tracy said, 11 weeks after he was shut down with a flexor strain . . . Righthander Tyler Uberstine returned to Worcester’s roster after a two-month stint on the injured list because of a right shoulder injury. His return — and his throwing close to 50 pitches in a rehab appearance — is particularly relevant in the context of Tracy saying the Sox are “eyeballing” inserting a sixth starter/long reliever at some point in their stretch of 16 consecutive games beginning Tuesday . . . Sunday was the Red Sox’ “Scottish Celebration” theme night, timed for Scottish fans being in town for the World Cup. “I expect to hear some bagpipes,” Tracy said . . . Former Sox prospect Anthony Rizzo, at Fenway as part of his NBC broadcast duties, was a very popular figure during pregame activity. Among those who made a point to say hello: former Yankees teammates Greg Weissert, Kiner-Falefa, and a particularly enthusiastic Tommy Kahnle; Roman Anthony, a fellow graduate of Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland, Fla.; and Will Middlebrooks, who was drafted by the Red Sox in the fifth round in 2007, one round ahead of Rizzo.

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