Bold claim: Two Red Sox rehabbing starters just took major steps forward, while a key second baseman could miss time to begin the season. And this is the part most people miss: the path back from injury for these front-line candidates will shape Boston’s early rotation and lineup more than you might think.
Two returning arms moved notably forward at Fenway South as Boston prepared for spring exhibition play in North Port. Rotation hopefuls Kutter Crawford and Patrick Sandoval each threw live batting practice sessions at JetBlue Park on Friday, per manager Alex Cora. This marked Crawford’s first hitting session against live hitters since last season’s knee and wrist issues sidelined him for the whole year, and Sandoval’s fourth live-session workout after elbow surgery setbacks last year. Cora called both sessions encouraging.
“Crawford was amazing. He was really good,” Cora told reporters. “Sandy did a solid job. Bails (pitching coach Andrew Bailey) was happy with how they both went. It’s a positive step for both of them.” Bailey echoed the sentiment, highlighting the consistency and tempo in their throwing.
Looking ahead, Cora anticipates each pitcher will get an up-and-down two-inning live BP session next, potentially as soon as midweek. If all goes well, game action could be on the horizon soon after. Sandoval currently holds a slight edge in the competition for the No. 5 rotation spot, but Crawford’s timeline was delayed by the flu before spring training began, which disrupted his build-up. In the mix for that final rotation job alongside them are Johan Oviedo, Connelly Early, and Payton Tolle. Early is also in line to pitch in relief, following Sonny Gray, at JetBlue Park this weekend as part of his second spring outing.
Rodgers update: shoulder concern with non-roster infielder Brendan Rodgers could stretch into the regular season
The Red Sox are still reviewing MRI results on non-roster infielder Brendan Rodgers, who suffered a shoulder injury diving for a ball at second base during Wednesday’s game. There’s no clear word yet on structural damage, but Rodgers remains sore more than 48 hours after the incident, per a source familiar with the situation.
As of Friday, the club was weighing next steps for Rodgers’ recovery, acknowledging a likely longer-than-usual timeline before his return. With Romy González not in Opening Day plans, Rodgers could emerge as a dark-horse option for some at-bats at second base, but the odds favor an Opening Day stint on the injured list if the current trajectory holds.
Samaniego making progress toward bullpen spot
Left-hander Tyler Samaniego, a non-roster invite who is vying for a bullpen role, should soon see game action, a source indicated. A scheduled spring debut for Sunday was scratched due to back tightness, later deemed a minor issue. He returned to bullpen work this week and is positioned to make a push for the Opening Day roster. Behind him, veteran lefty Jovani Moran remains the leading candidate to handle left-handed relief duties, aside from Aroldis Chapman.
Other injury notes
Three pitchers invited to camp on non-roster deals are currently unavailable for games: right-handers Osvaldo Berríos and Hobie Harris, and lefty Alec Gamboa. They aren’t expected to be Opening Day roster options.
Depth infielder Anthony Seigler, acquired in the Brewers trade along with Caleb Durbin and Andruw Monasterio, has yet to debut in spring games due to a knee issue. He’s been participating in batting practice as he recovers, per Mac Cerullo of The Boston Herald.
No changes with key players: Romy González remains unlikely to be ready for Opening Day. First baseman Triston Casas isn’t playing in games yet while he completes rehab from a May knee injury. Right-hander Tanner Houck will begin the season on the 60-day injured list as he progresses through recovery from August Tommy John surgery.
Bottom line: the Red Sox have several moving parts in flux, especially on the pitching side, but there’s clear momentum as two injured anchors step closer to workload readiness. The early weeks of spring will reveal how quickly they can translate these flashes into actual game readiness, and whether Rodgers or Seigler can push into the mix if injuries linger.
Would you rate Crawford or Sandoval as the likelier contributor to Boston’s early-season success, and how aggressively should the team push these spring steps into live game action? Share your take in the comments.
