Red Sox pitcher Sonny Gray exits early with leg issue

Boston Red Sox right-hander Sonny Gray left his Patriots' Day start against the Detroit Tigers in the third inning after experiencing what the team called "right hamstring tightness."

In his first season with the Red Sox after being acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals in a trade last November, Gray was making his fifth start of the 2026 campaign.

He had allowed one run on three hits and a walk over 2 ⅔ innings when he began having difficulty executing his pitching motion. After a brief visit from an athletic trainer and one practice pitch, Gray walked off the field.

(Salaries in present-day value calculated by MLB Labor Relations Department, impacted by deferrals and signing bonuses)

1. Juan Soto, Mets - $61,875,000

2. Cody Bellinger, Yankees - $42,500,000

3. Bo Bichette, Mets - $42 million

3. Zack Wheeler, Phillies – $42 million

5. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays - $40,214,286

6. Aaron Judge, Yankees – $40 million

7. Anthony Rendon, Angels - $38,571,429

8. Jacob deGrom, Rangers - $38 million

9. Mike Trout, Angels – $37,116,667

10. Gerrit Cole, Yankees – $36,000,000

11. Jose Altuve, Astros – $33 million

11. Kyle Tucker, Dodgers - $33 million

13. Tyler Glasnow, Dodgers - $32,500,000

14. Francisco Lindor, Mets - $32,477,277

15. Tarik Skubal, Tigers – $32 million

16. Carlos Correa, Astros – $31,500,000

16. Corey Seager, Rangers - $31,500,000

18. Sonny Gray, Red Sox – $31 million

19. Corbin Burnes, Diamondbacks – $30,790,069

20. Giancarlo Stanton, Yankees - $29 million

21. Nathan Eovaldi, Rangers – $28,536,643

22. Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers – $28,206,684

23. Dansby Swanson, Cubs – $28 million

24. Carlos Rodon, Yankees – $27,833,333

25. Stephen Strasburg, Nationals (*retired) – $27,814,045

26. Bryce Harper, Phillies - $27,538,462

27. Trea Turner, Phillies – $27,272,727

28. Blake Snell, Dodgers - $27,152,056

29. Kris Bryant, Rockies - $27 million

30. Yordan Alvarez, Astros - $26,833,333

1 / 30

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(Salaries in present-day value calculated by MLB Labor Relations Department, impacted by deferrals and signing bonuses)

1. Juan Soto, Mets - $61,875,000

1 / 30

See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball

(Salaries in present-day value calculated by MLB Labor Relations Department, impacted by deferrals and signing bonuses)

1. Juan Soto, Mets - $61,875,000

2 / 30

See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball

2. Cody Bellinger, Yankees - $42,500,000

3 / 30

See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball

3. Bo Bichette, Mets - $42 million

4 / 30

See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball

3. Zack Wheeler, Phillies – $42 million

5 / 30

See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball

5. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays - $40,214,286

6 / 30

See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball

6. Aaron Judge, Yankees – $40 million

7 / 30

See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball

7. Anthony Rendon, Angels - $38,571,429

8 / 30

See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball

8. Jacob deGrom, Rangers - $38 million

9 / 30

See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball

9. Mike Trout, Angels – $37,116,667

10 / 30

See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball

10. Gerrit Cole, Yankees – $36,000,000

11 / 30

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11. Jose Altuve, Astros – $33 million

12 / 30

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11. Kyle Tucker, Dodgers - $33 million

13 / 30

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13. Tyler Glasnow, Dodgers - $32,500,000

14 / 30

See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball

14. Francisco Lindor, Mets - $32,477,277

15 / 30

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15. Tarik Skubal, Tigers – $32 million

16 / 30

See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball

16. Carlos Correa, Astros – $31,500,000

17 / 30

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16. Corey Seager, Rangers - $31,500,000

18 / 30

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18. Sonny Gray, Red Sox – $31 million

19 / 30

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19. Corbin Burnes, Diamondbacks – $30,790,069

20 / 30

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20. Giancarlo Stanton, Yankees - $29 million

21 / 30

See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball

21. Nathan Eovaldi, Rangers – $28,536,643

22 / 30

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22. Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers – $28,206,684

23 / 30

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23. Dansby Swanson, Cubs – $28 million

24 / 30

See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball

24. Carlos Rodon, Yankees – $27,833,333

25 / 30

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25. Stephen Strasburg, Nationals (*retired) – $27,814,045

26 / 30

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26. Bryce Harper, Phillies - $27,538,462

27 / 30

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27. Trea Turner, Phillies – $27,272,727

28 / 30

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28. Blake Snell, Dodgers - $27,152,056

29 / 30

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29. Kris Bryant, Rockies - $27 million

30 / 30

See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball

30. Yordan Alvarez, Astros - $26,833,333

The 36-year-old veteran came into the game with a 2-1 record and 4.43 ERA over four starts.

If he is unable to return to the rotation or placed on the injured list, it could open the door for promising rookie Peyton Tolle to be promoted from the minors.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sonny Gray leaves Red Sox game early with hamstring tightness