Alex Bregman isn’t wired to sit on the sidelines. He was tearing up the league, producing like a legitimate MVP candidate before his quad injury. Before May 23, across 51 games, he had an impressive .299/.385/.553 with 11 home runs and 35 RBIs. Even after spending weeks on the IL, he still ranks second on the team in home runs. But how far is he from a potential return?

Well, the Boston Red Sox are suffering. They are probably under the Rafael Devers curse at the moment. Since his exit, the team has lost three straight series and lost seven of their last eight games. The team is now in fourth place in their division and three games behind for a wild card playoff spot and it’s primarily because of their offensive woes. Nevertheless, there is a chance for change. Before Monday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds, Boston received a much-needed shred of hope.

Bregman, who has suffered quad injuries before, missed 10 weeks in 2021 while playing for the Houston Astros. This time, he was concerned that it might take just as long as before. Phew, that didn’t happen, as Bregman’s recovery is surprisingly ahead of its original timeline.

“I feel really good. Today was the best that I’ve felt during the rehab process; it was the fastest I ran.” Bregman was quoted as saying by MLB.com.

Along with running, he has also begun his baseball drills. Each day he’s progressing with doing a bit more than the day before. Resumed full activity—hitting, defense, throwing and running straight and curved as well. So, we’ve got a lot of running on the agenda this week. So hopefully everything continues to go smoothly,” he added. On a side note, it was confirmed by the Red Sox reporter Chris Cotillo as well that Bregman will continue to run, swing bat and take infield during the team’s three-game series against the Reds.

After Monday’s session, Bregman expressed optimism in making a comeback before the All-Star break. Alex Cora also has a positive stance on it. “He’s close to 100 percent,” the skipper said. After playing against the Washington Nationals this weekend, there is a seven-game homestand that takes the Red Sox to the All-Star break. Will Bregman play? “Possibly,” Cora added.

Bregman is inching closer to his return and his return might just be the boost the Red Sox’ lineup needs right now.

The Red Sox may consider offering a new contract to Alex Bregman

Alex Bregman is not just focusing on his return. There’s more to it. As he inches closer to rejoining the lineup, he wants to be clear on where he sees himself after this season. Currently, he’s signed with the red sox on a three-year, $120 million deal. But his contract also includes an opt-out clause after the 2025 and 2026 seasons, which gives him a sense of flexibility to explore the buyers in the trade market.

However, he’s not willing to leave Boston anytime soon. In a recent media appearance, when he was asked about the ongoing internal contract discussions, Bregman said, “We’re open to listening to anything that they have to say.” He further emphasized that locking in a massive multimillion-dollar contract is his “high priority.” 

And well, he deserves it. The 31 year old hit .299 across 51 games before he got sidelined in May. It’s his all-star form that makes him one of the most sought-after bats across the league. Still, nothing can come close to Boston for Bregman. He expressed his love for playing for the Red Sox, saying “Being able to play for this organization is awesome.” 

For now, Bregman is only focusing on getting back onto the field. Once that happens, updates regarding his future in Boston will resurface.