Red Sox News: Xander Bogaerts getting close to playing in spring training

Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts has been sidelined by an ankle injury this spring but he’s getting close to appearing in games.

Xander Bogaerts has yet to see the field for the Boston Red Sox this spring but he’s expected to make his Grapefruit League season debut this week, reports The Boston Globe’s Julian McWilliams.

Bogaerts has been on the sidelined for the first 10 games of the exhibition schedule while nursing a sore ankle, leading to some concern about his availability for Opening Day. While the injury isn’t considered severe enough to keep him out quite that long, hitters need time to allow their bodies to adjust to the daily grind and find their rhythm at the plate. The…