For the next five days, the Red Sox outfielder will be shut down after experiencing discomfort in his left groin. While manager Bobby Valentine didn't classify it as a strain, the team will pull the reigns back on Crawford.
Crawford suffered the setback in Thursday's game with Double-A Portland, Valentine said. The outfielder was scheduled to continue his rehabilitation with the PawSox this weekend.
"He hit a triple the night before and when he turned second, he just felt a little twinge there," Valentine said. "So [he's] taking a couple days off from hitting and playing. He’s going to go right back in and start hitting soon in a game."
The brief hiatus will restart the clock on Crawford's rehab assignment. Before the groin injury, the 30-year-old has been eyeing a return to the Red Sox after battling a UCL sprain in his left elbow.
Valentine, however, downplayed the severity of the hindrance.
"It’s ice prevention," Valentine said. "Or it’s a little preventative thing to make sure it doesn’t get worse."
It comes a day after Crawford admitted to playing with pain in his elbow.
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