Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Needs three more ramp-up starts
Rotowire
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that Whitlock (hip) who is scheduled to pitch in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates, will likely require three more starts to build up before he's ready to join the big-league rotation, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.
Based on that timeline, Cora confirmed that Whitlock won't be in consideration for making the Red Sox's fifth start of the regular season, likely paving the way for Kutter Crawford to break camp as the final member of the team's rotation. Whitlock is scheduled to pitch three innings Monday before covering four innings in his next outing and then five innings in his final two starts prior to coming off the injured list, according to Cora. Assuming he sticks to a normal four-day rest schedule between those outings, Whitlock would be on pace to be activated as soon as April 9.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Will start Monday
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Whitlock (hip) will start Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates, Mac Cerullo of The North Andover Eagle-Tribune reports.
Whitlock will make his second appearance of the spring as he works his way back from the hip surgery that has sidelined him for the majority of the exhibition season. The 26-year-old right-hander is expected to open the year on the injured list, but the fact he's making starts in spring training gives him a great chance of making that a short stint assuming there are no setbacks over the next two weeks.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Makes spring debut
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Whitlock (hip) walked one and struck out three over two scoreless relief innings in Wednesday's spring game against Tampa Bay.
Whitlock looked impressive in his spring debut following rehab from hip surgery. While he pitched in relief Wednesday, following five strong innings from Corey Kluber, the right-hander is expected to be a starter in 2023. Whitlock will not be ready for the opening series and could miss up to two April starts, but the positives of his Grapefruit League debut outweigh a couple of missed cold-weather starts.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Throws live BP
Rotowire
Whitlock (hip) threw live batting practice Saturday, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
Both Whitlock and Brayan Bello (forearm) faced hitters Saturday. Whitlock, who showed no ill effects from the right hip surgery he had last September, threw two innings and worked his pitch count to 46. It was the second live throwing session this week for the right-hander, who is expected to make his Grapefruit League debut Wednesday against the Rays. There's an outside chance Whitlock is ready for the start of the season, but it seems more likely the Red Sox take a measured approach in his progression. He could miss one or two starts.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Ready for live work
Rotowire
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Whitlock (hip) will throw a live batting practice session Saturday, Mike Monaco of ESPN reports.
Whitlock still hasn't participated in fielding drills in the Grapefruit League, but the right-hander has been throwing off the mound and will face hitters again on Saturday. His status for Opening Day is still very much in doubt, but good showings on Saturday and his upcoming bullpens gives him a chance to return in the early part of April if there are no setbacks.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: May miss Opening Day
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Whitlock (hip) may not be game-ready to open the regular season, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.
Whitlock has been throwing off a mound and to hitters, but his recovery from hip surgery has prevented him from participating in fielding drills thus far. The Red Sox are unlikely to rush things with a key piece of their rotation, so Whitlock may begin the season on the shelf while he prepares to take on a starter's workload.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: To throw live BP on Friday
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Whitlock (hip) will throw two innings of live batting practice Friday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.
Whitlock hasn't appeared in a Grapefruit League game yet, as the Red Sox are easing him into things as he works his way back from hip surgery. It remains possible the right-hander will need a stint on the injured list to start the season, but any potential absence isn't expected to be significant. Manager Alex Cora said Thursday that more will be known about Whitlock's status next week.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Status to start year uncertain
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Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Monday that Whitlock (hip) is throwing the ball well in camp, but the right-hander's availability for Opening Day hasn't yet been determined, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports. "He's moving well. Not yet doing [pitchers' fielding practice] yet," Cora said. "We're not concerned. 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."
Though the fact that Whitlock hasn't been shut down from throwing is a good sign, he looks to be a week or more from making his Grapefruit League debut since he hasn't yet been fully cleared for defensive drills while he works his way back from September arthroscopic surgery on his right hip. Fantasy managers who are considering the right-hander for the 2023 season will want to pay close attention for updates on his status in the coming days and weeks. If Whitlock is unable to get built up as a starter in spring training, he could open the year on the injured list while getting stretched out in extended spring training or he could open in the big-league bullpen.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Eased into fielding drills
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Whitlock (hip) is being eased into pitchers' fielding practice during camp, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Going through full fielding drills will be the last thing Whitlock does this spring as he comes back from hip surgery. The good news is he's been throwing regular bullpen sessions and his arm feels on track, so there shouldn't be any question about the pitcher's Opening Day availability. Whitlock is expected to be part of the Red Sox' rotation.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Throws bullpen Friday
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Whitlock (hip) threw a bullpen session Friday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Whitlock's versatility has been helpful to Boston that last two seasons, but he's expected to be a full-time starter in 2023. The Red Sox's rotation features several pitchers returning from injury. Depending on how conservative the team is with him, James Paxton (lat) and Chris Sale (wrist), there could be a piggybacking situation at the outset of the season. As a starter in 2022, Whitlock had a 4.15 ERA over 39 innings.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Already at work in camp
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Whitlock (hip) did weight training and ran sprints Tuesday in Red Sox camp, Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe reports.
Whitlock arrived early to camp in Fort Myers, Florida, and appears to be fully recovered from September surgery on his right hip. Assuming there are no setbacks along the way this spring, the 26-year-old right-hander should be locked into a spot at the back end of Boston's season-opening starting rotation. He registered a strong 3.45 ERA and 82:15 K:BB across 78.1 innings (nine starts, 22 relief appearances) for the Sox during the 2022 campaign.
Whitlock (hip) has begun throwing off the mound, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Whitlock is recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his right hip. Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters that his recovery is on schedule, and the right-hander is expected to open the season as a member of the Boston rotation.
Whitlock (hip) is progressing in his rehab program and indicated Monday he is preparing to open the 2023 season as a starter, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
The right-hander started nine games last season but has primarily worked as a reliever since he made his MLB debut in 2021. Whitlock has been effective with a 2.73 ERA across 77 outings, and Boston now plans to move him to the rotation to begin the season. The 26-year-old underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right hip in late September and is expected be ready for spring training as he ramps up his throwing program in December.
Whitlock underwent successful arthroscopic right hip surgery Monday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
With the Red Sox reporting that Whitlock experienced no complications with his procedure, the expectation is that he'll be back to full strength for spring training. What's less certain for Whitlock is which role he'll fill for the Boston pitching staff in 2023 after he dabbled between starting and working high-leverage relief this season, accruing a 4-2 record and six saves to go with a 3.45 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 82:15 K:BB across 78.1 innings. Expect manager Alex Cora and the Red Sox front office to should shed more light on Whitlock's role heading into the upcoming season at some point over the winter.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Officially lands on IL
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Whitlock (hip) was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Whitlock's placement on the injured list was expected since he's been shut down from throwing and will undergo surgery next week to address his right hip impingement. The right-hander is expected to be ready for spring training in 2023, while Connor Seabold was recalled from Triple-A Worcester to start Wednesday against the Reds.
