Red Sox's Hunter Dobbins Out for Season with Knee Injury Ahead of MLB Trade Deadline

Boston Red Sox pitcher Hunter Dobbins will miss the remainder of the season after tearing his ACL during Friday's win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Dobbins confirmed the injury after undergoing an MRI.

The Red Sox officially placed him on the 15-day injured list before Saturday's game and recalled Richard Fitts from Triple-A to take his spot on the roster.

he injury occurred in the second inning when Dobbins was covering first base and landed awkwardly on his right leg catching a throw from Abraham Toro. He tried to stay in the game by making a warmup toss, but manager Alex Cora removed him after one pitch.

Dobbins, who tore the same ACL playing football in high school, said he knew immediately what the injury was when it happened.

An eight-round draft pick out of Texas Tech in 2021, Dobbins made his MLB debut this season. He has made 13 appearances (11 starts), posting a 4.13 ERA in 61 innings.

The Red Sox beat the Rays 5-4 on Ceddanne Rafaela's walk-off two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth.

Dobbins is now the fifth Red Sox pitcher on the IL. He joins a group that includes Kutter Crawford, Tanner Houck, Patrick Sandoval and Josh Winckowski.

Crawford, who hasn't pitched all year, is expected to miss the remainder of the season due to a wrist injury that requires surgery. Houck is making his way back from a strained forearm flexor after striking out six in a rehab start at Triple-A on Wednesday.

The timing of Dobbins' injury does allow the Red Sox to add to their pitching staff before the trade deadline on July 31. They went from looking like a potential seller two weeks ago to a likely buyer now that they have won eight straight games and 10 of their last 11 since June 30.

Boston has moved into the No. 2 spot in the AL wild card race with a 51-45 record. The Red Sox trail the New York Yankees by three games for the top wild card seed. They are only five games back of the Toronto Blue Jays for first place in the AL East.