John Farrell Makes Red Sox Team Photo Day Despite Bout With Lymphoma

BOSTON — John Farrell couldn’t stay away for long.

Farrell began chemotherapy treatment Tuesday for his Stage 1 lymphoma. On Friday, the manager was spotted smiling and laughing with the Red Sox as part of team photo day at Fenway Park.

“He’s doing well,” Torey Lovullo, who will serve as Boston’s manager for the remainder of this season in Farrell’s absence, said before Friday night’s game against the Kansas City Royals. “Just obviously a little fatigued, as we all expected, but he’s such a horse that he just wants to be around and be a part of this despite that fatigue. It’s great to see him. It’s great to have him around.”

Farrell obviously needs to focus on his health. New Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski echoed such sentiments recently during an introductory press conference.

Farrell’s passion for baseball and the Red Sox can’t be denied, though. He said upon revealing his diagnosis that he fully intends to return to the bench in 2016, and moments like Friday’s team photo day go a long way toward proving the skipper isn’t messing around when he makes such declarations.

“It’s great to have baseball conversations with him,” Lovullo said. “But the best thing about it is, it’s great to see him laugh and smile.”

Farrell also spent some time in the Red Sox’s clubhouse before Friday’s game.

Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@Sportsnet