BOSTON — The Red Sox have been hit by injuries to key players over the last few weeks, but one important pitcher is making great progress in his return to the mound.
Veteran starter Steven Wright, who’s arguably been Boston’s best pitcher in 2016, is making “substantial improvement,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said before Friday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Fenway Park.
“He threw (Friday) out to 90 feet, then also threw some flat ground. So, there’s been a substantial improvement over the last 24 hours,” Farrell said. “Next week’s start, which would be hopefully Thursday, has not been ruled out yet. (Friday) was a very good day for Steven.”
“The range of motion has improved, as I said, over the last 24 hours, the strength. The symptoms have decreased. He’s not symptom-free, but still there’s a marked improvement. At some point over the coming days, if we’re still targeting Thursday, and if he’s still making that track, we would have to get him on the mound by probably Monday — would be the rough goal for that.”
Wright has been sidelined with shoulder inflammation suffered while running the bases during a recent interleague series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The 31-year-old knuckleballer is 13-5 with a 3.01 ERA and 123 strikeouts in 22 games this season.
Thumbnail photo via Nick Turchiaro/USA TODAY Sports Images
