Red Sox outfielder Carl Crawford is experiencing inflammation in his surgically repaired left wrist, and will refrain from swinging a bat for several days.
Crawford, in his second season with the Red Sox after signing a seven-year contract with the team in December 2010, underwent surgery on his left wrist on January 17. The four-time All-Star hopes to be ready by Opening Day, but new manager Bobby Valentine and first-year GM Ben Cherington have both expressed skepticism.
"He probably overdid it a little bit," Valentine told ESPNBoston.com.
Crawford will turn 31 in August. In his first year with the Red Sox, he hit a career-worst .255, adding 11 home runs and 56 RBI. He also stole just 18 bases, after stealing 60 and 47 in 2010 and 2011, respectively.
The Red Sox will play without Crawford when they begin spring training play this weekend. Boston will play split squad games against the college teams from Northeastern University and Boston College on Saturday before hosting the Twins on Sunday in the Sox's Grapefruit League opener.
