The Boston Red Sox have reinstated two players from the COVID-19-related injured list, including their leadoff hitter for much of the 2021 season.Before Tuesday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Red Sox manager Alex Cora announced that infielder/outfielder Enrique "Kiké" Hernández and utility player Danny Santana had been removed from the COVID-19 IL.Hernández has been on the COVID injured list since Aug. 27 after testing positive for the coronavirus. Since he tested positive while Boston was playing a road series against the Cleveland Indians, he had to quarantine in Cleveland.The 30-year-old has batted .258 with 30 doubles, three triples, 17 home runs and 51 runs batted in while hitting leadoff in the Red Sox lineup for many of the 112 games he has played in this year. He has reached base in 49 of his last 52 games, and his .409 on-base percentage since June 27 is the best in the American League. He has made 64 starts in center field, 40 at second base and four at shortstop.Hernández is set to bat leadoff and play center field for Boston in Tuesday's game at Fenway Park.Santana was placed on the COVID-19 IL on Sunday. Cora said that Santana never tested positive for the coronavirus, but he was feeling ill and placed on the COVID injured list as a precaution.The 30-year-old has played in 35 games for the Red Sox this season and has batted .168 with two doubles, one triple, four home runs and 13 RBI. He has made 12 starts in center field, 11 at first base, two in left field and two at designated hitter.Red Sox left-handed relief pitcher Josh Taylor was reinstated from the COVID-19 IL on Monday.Boston now has eight players remaining on its COVID injured list: All-Star shortstop Xander Bogaerts, All-Star closer Matt Barnes, starting pitcher Nick Pivetta, rookie outfielder Jarren Duran, infielder Christian Arroyo, right-handed pitcher Hirokazu Sawamura, left-handed pitcher Martín Pérez and infielder Yairo Muñoz.Cora confirmed Tuesday that Pivetta tested positive for COVID-19, which means that all of the remaining players on the Red Sox's COVID IL have recently tested positive for the coronavirus.To make room from Hernández and Santana on the active roster, the Red Sox designated infielder Taylor Motter for assignment and optioned outfielder Franchy Cordero to Triple-A Worcester.Boston claimed Motter off waivers from the Colorado Rockies on Sept. 2. The 31-year-old played in three games for the Sox and started the last two at second base, batting .333 with three runs scored, one double, one triple, one RBI and one walk.Cordero, who was acquired by the Red Sox in the Andrew Benintendi trade, has appeared in 47 games with the Red Sox this season, batting .189 with six doubles, one home run and nine RBI. He made 27 starts in left field, eight at first base, one in right field and one at designated hitter for Boston.