Hanley Ramirez: Ailing shoulder remains 'a work in progress'

Hanley Ramirez is aware the Boston Red Sox are reeling, so the 31-year-old returned to the lineup Saturday following a three-game absence even though his ailing shoulder isn't completely healthy.

"It's a work in progress," Ramirez told WEEI's Rob Bradford prior to his team’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Sunday afternoon. "They need me on the field, so I have to be on the field and try and help the team win games."

Ramirez, who injured his shoulder last Monday after colliding with the left-field wall at Fenway Park, went hitless in four trips to the plate in Saturday's 7-1 loss to the Blue Jays. The two-time All-Star scored a pair of runs and finished 1-for-4 in Sunday's series finale, a 6-3 victory for the Red Sox.

Though he has yet to rediscover his stroke since returning to the lineup, Ramirez expressed optimism Sunday that his shoulder issue won't linger. His wonky left shoulder, however, has already been operated on twice in his career, in 2007 and 2011.

"I hope not, but I don't try and think about it," said Ramirez. "I keep doing my exercises and getting treatment every day. We’re going to stay on top of it."

Ramirez's injury, though, is simply one nuisance in a litany of problems plaguing the Red Sox, who own a 2-7 record this month. Amid continued struggles on the mound, the Red Sox fired pitching coach Juan Nieves on Thursday, while the lineup's .631 OPS in May ranks fourth-worst in the majors.

“We’€™re here to win. It’€™s a long season and you’€™re going to have ups and downs,” he said. “When you get down you have to keep your head up, try and get out of hit and go from there. Things happen for a reason. I’€™m just trying to keep working and I’€™m happy to be on the field.”