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Cody Ross has been activated from the 15-day disabled list, and is in Boston's lineup and playing left field Tuesday night against the Miami Marlins. Ross has been out since leaving the May 18 game against the Philadelphia Phillies, where he broke the navicular bone in his foot after fouling a pitch off of it.
Ross had been a significant part of the Red Sox offense to that point, hitting .271/.349/.534, with a 135 OPS+ that still ranks third among Boston regulars. While that's the same bone that Dustin Pedroia broke on a foul ball back in 2010, the break was smaller, and therefore was expected to heal faster. The boot on his foot came off just a few weeks after the break, on June 4, and he was sent on rehab assignment to Pawtucket this past weekend.
The return of Ross comes at the right time, as Scott Podsednik injured his groin on Sunday against the Cubs, and Ryan Sweeney was placed on the disabled list with the toe problem he's been dealing with as of late. Podsednik has joined Sweeney on the DL, leaving Boston's outfield situation to involve Ross, Darnell McDonald, Ryan Kalish, Daniel Nava, and, when needed, Adrian Gonzalez.
The injuries have been tiresome, but you have to give credit to the depth assembled, and the performance they've put on in place of the starters.