In any sport for any team, injuries are a major concern. The good thing with baseball is that the season is 162 games. The assumption is if it’s not Tommy John or tearing a ligament, the player will return this season. In the case of the Red Sox however, it’s a lot of injuries to one specific area early on. It’s a little concerning, and it’s not just at the major league level. Here are just some of the pitchers that are injured currently, and when they’re projected to return.
Sonny Gray
Sonny Gray was a shocking injury, as he pitched less than three innings before being pulled on Monday. He left the game due to right hamstring tightness and was placed on the injured list on Tuesday morning. This is a big loss for Boston currently, as it could be argued that Gray was their best pitcher in the rotation. With the lack of a serious injury, Gray could be healed by his next start date. However, MLB requires that pitchers on the injured list stay on there for about two weeks. Therefore, Gray’s return will be pushed to about early May.
The subsequent roster move was calling up Tyler Samaniego, a rookie who’s already had a stellar start to his debut season. The bigger question is who will take over Gray’s spot in the rotation. Payton Tolle seems like the most likely candidate with Johan Oviedo being injured. Although, it feels like they would’ve called him up instead of Samaniego if that was the case. Time will tell who starts come Saturday.
Justin Slaten
Justin Slaten has been one of the better bullpen arms this year for Boston, pitching a little over three innings but maintaining an ERA of 0.00. On April 5th he suffered a right oblique strain, causing him to be put on the injured list. During his time out, multiple pitchers have taken his role, including Samaniego and fellow rookie pitcher Jack Anderson. Anderson’s kept it steady and has become a reliable arm in the bullpen, but Slaten’s arm is missed surely as of now. While Slaten’s IL stint passed the minimum time on Monday, he is still expected to make a rehab assignment in Worcester before joining the big leagues again.
Patrick Sandoval
Patrick Sandoval may have signed with the Red Sox in December of 2024, but due to season-ending UCL and Tommy John surgery, he has yet to make an appearance in a Red Sox uniform. The left hander has spent his career with the Los Angeles Angels, putting up an unfortunate record of 19-45. However, there are years where he’s been decent; in 2022, he had an ERA+ of 138. Sandoval’s one of three major starters that the Red Sox are waiting for to return. Between him, Kutter Crawford, and Tanner Houck, he was projected to be the first to return. But there’s been a setback.
He was supposed to make a start on Saturday in Worcester, but was scratched due to bicep tightness. With Houck’s timeline looking like the end of the year at best and Crawford being shut down for the time being, the hope is for Sandoval to bounce back quickly. But the update on that will have to wait for now.
Juan Valera
Highly touted prospect Juan Valera was taken out early in the Greenville Drive’s game last Thursday. In a weird game against the Bowling Green Hot Rods (in which the backup catcher pitched the last three innings), Valera left after the first inning. However, contrary to what it seemed like at the moment, the injury is not serious. The 100th best prospect according to Baseball America suffered elbow inflammation and avoided serious damage, being placed on the IL for two weeks. The flame-throwing 19 year old is one of the most coveted prospects in a stacked Greenville Drive squad, so the more he’s around, the better they are.
Of course, those aren’t the only four injured. Crawford and Houck, as mentioned, are out some time. Oviedo got upgraded from the 15 to the 60 day IL with his right flexor strain injury. Tyler Uberstine is on the IL in Worcester with right shoulder soreness. The pitching depth has surely taken a lot of hits this early in the season. The Red Sox have a test on that part of their team over the next few weeks to see if it can stand strong.
(Top Image Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images)
