Red Sox pitcher Garrett Whitlock may not be ready for Opening Day as he recovers from hip surgery at the end of last season. Steve Helber/Associated Press
Garrett Whitlock may not be ready for Opening Day, Red Sox Manager Alex Cora said Monday.
Every starting pitcher’s progress is different, but Whitlock is noticeably behind several of his rotation-mates; he hasn’t participated in PFPs (pitchers’ fielding practice) yet, nor has he thrown to live hitters.
“His next bullpen is up and down again,” Cora told reporters, including MLB’s Ian Browne. “He’s throwing the ball well, he’s moving well. Not yet doing PFPs.”
Snatched from the Yankees in the Rule 5 Draft before the 2021 season, Whitlock was a surprise standout in his rookie season. Working exclusively as a reliever and closer that first year, he posted a 1.96 ERA with 81 strikeouts across 73 1/3 innings. His 46 appearances included 11 games finished and two saves.
In 2022, the Red Sox used Whitlock as a starter and reliever before hip surgery ended his season in September. Over the first nine starts of his big-league career, he posted a 4.15 ERA and 1.256 WHIP, with 18 earned runs, nine walks, and 38 strikeouts across 39 innings. Over 22 relief appearances totaling 39 1/3 innings, he had a 2.75 ERA, 0.788 WHIP, allowed 12 earned runs, six walks, and struck out 44 batters.
Last year was a small sample size, but the Red Sox plan to use Whitlock as a starting pitcher moving forward, and made several bullpen upgrades this offseason in order to do so.
“We’re not concerned. We’ve got a plan,” Cora said. “We’ll see where we’re at in the upcoming weeks. If he’s ready for Opening Day, he’s ready. But if he’s not, he’s not going to lose too much time. If he’s not there (for Opening Day), it’s not because he’s hurt or whatever. It’s just the progression of where we’re at, especially moving around.”
TUESDAY’S GAME: Triston Casas went 2 for 3 with three RBI and his first spring homer as the Boston Red Sox beat the Miami Marlin 7-2 at Jupiter, Florida.
Greg Allen went 3 for 3 for the Red Sox. Ryan Fitzgerald had a two-run double in the sixth inning and Enmanuel Valdez homered in the eighth.
Corey Kluber started for Boston and pitched two scoreless inning, allowing two hits. He struck out one without a walk.
JARREN DURAN’S PATH to everyday play is further complicated by one of the organization’s top prospects.
Ceddanne Rafaela was a one-man highlight reel in center field last season, and he offers serious speed and bat power, to boot. He stole 28 bases in 116 games between High- and Double-A last year, and hit 32 doubles, 10 triples, and 21 home runs.
As a pinch-hitter on Monday, he went 1 for 1 with a pair of runs batted in off Twins rookie Simeon Woods Richardson.
The 22-year-old prospect made the difficult decision not to join Team Netherlands for the WBC so that he can focus on spring training and hopefully earn a promotion to Triple-A.
With Duran playing on Team Mexico and Hernández with Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, Rafaela will have even more time to shine this spring. Cora says Rafaela will spend the bulk of his time in centerfield, but will also see time at shortstop.
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