Update On Four Boston Red Sox Pitchers

The Boston Red Sox are certainly dealing with lots of injuries this spring, however, everything seems to be trending the right way.

Several pitchers have been making progress with their workouts, according to reports from Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic.

Joely Rodriguez, who had been dealing with a shoulder injury, threw a bullpen session on Friday and is expected to join a revamped bullpen that was a weakness for Boston in 2022. Although he has had issues with walks in the past, Rodriguez has shown an ability to limit home runs, evidenced by his better FIP (3.23) and SIERA (3.54) compared to the 4.47 ERA he posted in 55 games with the New York Mets last season.

Garrett Whitlock, known for his versatility, burst onto the scene last year and is expected to be a full-time starter for the Red Sox in 2023 after posting a 4.15 ERA over 39 innings in that role in 2022.

That being said, with several pitchers returning from injury, including James Paxton and Chris Sale, there may be a piggybacking situation at the beginning of the season depending on the team's approach, which could be good as it would allow some of the more injury-prone pitchers to get extra rest in between starts.

Speaking of James Paxton, the left-hander threw a bullpen session on Thursday after working through a normal spring training for the first time since 2019. Despite the Red Sox turning down a club option for him, Paxton opted to exercise his player option to stay in Boston, citing his comfort with the training staff and environment. The 34-year-old is expected to occupy a spot in the rotation. He has yet to make his Red Sox debut.

Finally, Corey Kluber, who is coming off a fully healthy season with the Tampa Bay Rays, threw 31 pitches in a bullpen session on Friday. The right-hander posted a 4.34 ERA in 31 starts for the Rays last season and is looking to build off that success as he slots into the middle of Boston's rotation. Photo Credit:  Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports