Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Throws four minor-league innings
Rotowire
Whitlock (hip) threw 63 pitches across four innings in a minor-league game Friday, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
Whitlock is set to open the year on the injured list after building up slowly this spring as he recovers from September hip surgery. He's making good progress, however, and is scheduled to start Triple-A Worcester's home opener March 30. Given that he's already up to four innings of work, he should be ready to handle a starter's workload once he's activated off the injured list.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Making rehab start March 31
Rotowire
Whitlock (hip) will make a rehab start with Triple-A Worcester on March 31, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
It will be Worcester's Opening Day and could be the only rehab outing Whitlock requires before joining the Red Sox' rotation. The right-hander is healthy but has been brought along slowly in camp following offseason hip surgery.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Headed for injured list
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Whitlock (hip) will begin the season on the 10-day injured list, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
Whitlock made his first spring training start Monday, but Red Sox manager Alex Cora said the 26-year-old righty will need to make three more starts before he's ready to rejoin Boston's rotation. Those three outings (plus four rest days between each start) put him in line to return sometime in mid-April.
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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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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: 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.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: On track for return
Rotowire
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.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Prepping to start
Rotowire
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.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Officially lands on IL
Rotowire
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.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Needs surgery, hopeful for spring
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Whitlcok has been shut down from throwing and will require hip surgery next week, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.
Per Abraham, the expectation is that Whitlock will be ready for spring training. He gave up seven runs on 10 hits and two walks while striking out 10 in seven innings over his final five appearances. Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican noted that Whitlock has looked uncomfortable walking around all season, so he has probably been pitching at less than 100 percent.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Credited with shaky hold
Rotowire
Whitlock allowed three runs on four hits while striking out three over two innings to earn a hold in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Rangers.
Whitlock followed starter Brayan Bello, who pitched six cruised innings. Whitlock cruised through the seventh before adversity struck in the eighth. He was tagged for a single, two home runs and flyout that Alex Verdugo tracked down in front of the bullpen in right field. It was the second consecutive game in which Whitlock allowed three runs and nearly wiped out a stellar pitching effort by a starter. Prior to his last two outings, the right-hander pitched well since returning from a hip injury July 15, including five saves, two holds, a 1.59 ERA and 23 strikeouts over 22.2 innings.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Locks down save
Rotowire
Whitlock struck out one in a perfect inning and earned a save over Tampa Bay on Friday.
Whitlock needed just eight pitches to roll through the Rays. It was his sixth save of the year and third in his last four appearances. The 26-year-old now owns a 2.90 ERA with a 72:13 K:BB through 71.1 innings this season. Whitlock should continue seeing a large portion of Boston's save opportunities while Tanner Houck (back) is out.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Shuts door Sunday
Rotowire
Whitlock picked up the save Sunday against the Yankees. He pitched a perfect ninth inning while striking out two.
Whitlock was fantastic Sunday, striking out Andrew Benintendi and Aaron Judge before getting Josh Donaldson to ground out to record his third save on the season. With Tanner Houck injured, Whitlock has recently split save opportunities with John Schreiber. Whitlock has a strong 2.98 ERA and 0.98 WHIP and has only blown one save opportunity in 23 appearances this season, but Schreiber has also been great. Expect the two relievers to continue splitting opportunities as long as Houck is sidelined.
