Hernandez (wrist) will start at shortstop and bat eighth in Monday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hernandez was removed from Sunday's loss to the Twins after suffering a right wrist contusion when he was hit by a pitch, but his re-entry into the lineup a day later confirms that his early exit was precautionary. With Trevor Story (elbow) likely to miss the first half of the season, Hernandez is expected to serve as Boston's everyday shortstop to begin the campaign, so he should quickly gain eligibility at the position in all fantasy leagues after making only four starts at shortstop in 2022.

Hernandez (wrist) is expected to play in Monday's exhibition versus Atlanta after exiting Sunday's Grapefruit League loss to the Twins, Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hernandez was diagnosed with a right wrist contusion after being pulled from Sunday's contest shortly after being hit by a pitch. He was initially able to stay in the game to run the bases and play defense, but the Red Sox removed him from the contest once his next turn in the batting order came up. Hernandez's early exit looks to have been mostly precautionary, and so long as he doesn't experiencing any major swelling on his wrist overnight, he looks like he won't be in danger of being sidelined for Opening Day.

Hernandez was removed from Sunday's spring game with a right wrist contusion after being hit by a pitch, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 31-year-old initially remained in the contest following the hit-by-pitch, but he was pulled before making his next plate appearance. Hernandez could be headed for X-rays, and his status for Opening Day is now in question.

Hernandez and Christian Arroyo will be used in the leadoff spot against left-handed pitching this season, Red Sox manager Alex Cora told Ian Browne of MLB.com Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Alex Verdugo and Triston Casas are Cora's top two picks for the leadoff spot against righties. Hernandez batted leadoff for Cora for most of the first two months of last season before being used mostly toward the bottom of the order down the stretch after returning from a hip injury.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora cited Hernandez and Alex Verdugo as players he'd like to see steal more bags in 2023, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cora lamented the state of baserunning in baseball, saying the art is "at its worst" for a variety of reasons, but he would like his club to take advantage of the bigger bases, which will create a four-and-half inch reduction in the distance between first and second base and between second and third base. Hernandez attempted two steals (caught both times) last season but also missed a lot of time with a hip injury. The most he's stolen is four bags in 2019. The manager plans to emphasize the finer points of baserunning techniques during spring training.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters on Friday that Hernandez has a chance to be the starting shortstop for the Red Sox, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hernandez will be playing in the infield after spending the majority of the 2022 season in center field. The versatile 31-year-old has played 100 games in his career at shortstop with 258 at second base. Hernandez should get plenty of playing time regardless if he's the everyday option at short or not, but there's not going to be much fantasy relevance in his bat no matter where he's playing.

Hernandez is expected to move into a full-time role in the middle infield to begin the 2023 season with Trevor Story (elbow) expected to miss a significant chunk of the campaign, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hernandez handled a utility role for most of his first seven years in the majors, but he's primarily manned center field since joining Boston ahead of the 2021 season. The Red Sox had earmarked Story for shortstop following Xander Bogaerts' offseason move to San Diego, but those plans are on hold after Story underwent surgery on his throwing elbow and is now set to miss a sizable portion of the upcoming season. With Boston signing Adam Duvall to a one-year deal Wednesday and set to install him as their everyday center fielder, Hernandez will turn his focus to the infield, where he could play regularly at either second base or shortstop. According to Cotillo, Boston is still expected to bring aboard another middle infielder this offseason, but any new arrival is more likely to affect the playing-time outlook of Christian Arroyo rather than Hernandez. Since he didn't play more than 11 games at any spot besides center field in 2022, Hernandez won't carry multi-position eligibility in most fantasy leagues entering 2023, but it shouldn't take long for him to gain eligibility at whichever middle-infield spot he ultimately settles.

Hernandez is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Blue Jays, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hernandez started the past 21 games and will head to the bench after he posted a .227/.310/.280 slash line during that stretch. Jarren Duran, who was promoted from Triple-A Worcester on Friday, is starting in center field and batting leadoff.

Hernandez batted eighth and went 1-for-5 with two runs scored in Tuesday's 13-9 win over Baltimore.

EDGE Analysis

Hernandez had returned to the top of the order for Monday's game when Tommy Pham was given the day off, and he had a couple of hits and three RBI. Pham returned to the lineup Tuesday and was back in the leadoff spot, sending Hernandez down to the lower third of the batting order. It's been a rough season for Hernandez, who missed the bulk of the summer with a hip injury. His batting average hovered around the .200 mark for most of the season before a recent push since Aug. 26 (25-for-94, .266) raised it to .225. Despite the down season, the Red Sox inked him for 2023, and Hernandez is expected back as the team's center fielder next year.

Hernandez went 2-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored in Monday's 14-8 loss to Baltimore.

EDGE Analysis

Hernandez was back in a familiar spot, leading off for Boston as Tommy Pham was given the day off. He's been filling in regularly for second baseman Trevor Story, whose heel injury was expected to keep him out only a few days but eventually landed him on the injured list.