Red Sox star Isiah Kiner-Falefa shares injury update before Mariners game

The Boston Red Sox’s injury concerns continue to mount, as veteran infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa revealed he will undergo an MRI on his sore left forearm after experiencing increased discomfort.

Kiner-Falefa was originally scheduled to be in Boston’s lineup in the series opener against the Seattle Mariners on Friday, but he was removed shortly before first pitch because of left forearm inflammation. After the game, he explained that the issue had been bothering him for more than two weeks. The pain and swelling worsened during the Red Sox’s recent homestand, forcing him to skip batting practice in an effort to reduce the number of swings he was taking, according to the 31-year-old. The condition became worse after the team’s six-hour flight to Seattle, leading to the decision to rest and undergo further evaluation.

Despite the setback, Kiner-Falefa indicated that he does not believe the injury is serious and hopes to return to action rather quickly after receiving MRI results.

The injury comes at a difficult time for Boston’s infield. Since Trevor Story was placed on the injured list with a sports hernia on May 14, Kiner-Falefa has taken on an expanded role. He has made starts across the diamond, including nine at shortstop, 21 at second base and five at third base. The Red Sox are also currently without Story, Nick Sogard and Romy Gonzalez, while first baseman Triston Casas has been out since last season.

Signed to a one-year, $6 million contract before the season, Kiner-Falefa has been one of Boston’s most reliable infield contributors. Through 47 games and 119 at-bats, he owns a .277 batting average, .344 on-base percentage, .361 slugging percentage and .705 OPS. He has added two home runs and 13 RBIs. His two homers already match his total from the entire 2025 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Toronto Blue Jays combined.

The nine-year major league veteran, a Gold Glove winner renowned for his defensive flexibility, has also excelled in the field. Baseball Savant ranks him in the 87th percentile in Fielding Run Value.

If the MRI reveals a more serious issue and Kiner-Falefa lands on the injured list, Triple-A Worcester catcher Anthony Seigler will likely be called-up after he was absent from the WooSox lineup Saturday.

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