Hanigan entered the game hitting .216 (11-for-51) with a home run and five RBIs in 18 games this season. He was 1-for-3 before departing from the contest. Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
BOSTON — Boston Red Sox catcher Ryan Hanigan took a deflected ball off his right hand and was forced to leave the game during the seventh inning of the series opener against the New York Yankees on Friday night at Fenway Park.
An errant pitch that hit New York first baseman Mark Teixeira in the wrist bounced directly into Hanigan’s hand, forcing the Boston catcher to the bench. Sandy Leon, Boston’s backup catcher, jogged in from the bullpen to replace him.
Hanigan entered the game hitting .216 (11-for-51) with a home run and five RBIs in 18 games this season. He was 1-for-3 before departing from the contest.
Boston is already thin at the position, as starting catcher Christian Vasquez was placed on the 60-day disabled list on March 30 after having season-ending Tommy John surgery.
