The Boston Red Sox haven’t started the regular season yet, but they might already have an injury in their bullpen.
Right-handed reliever Carson Smith exited Monday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals after facing just one batter in the seventh inning. ESPN’s Buster Olney tweeted that Smith was experiencing cramping in his forearm and that it “wasn’t a case of feeling something on just one pitch.”
Cramping isn’t necessarily a great sign, as it can be a precursor to needing Tommy John surgery. However, it could also be nothing, so it’s really hard to speculate without having any other information.
Going into Monday’s contest, Smith had pitched four scoreless innings over four spring training games, giving up just two hits, one walk and striking out four.
UPDATE (11:45 p.m. ET): Red Sox manager John Farrel reporters after Monday’s game, per The Associated Press, that Smith would return to Fort Myers, Fla., to be evaluated after leaving the contest due to cramping in his forearm.
Thumbnail photo via Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports Images
