Tyler O’Neill Shares Encouraging Note After ‘Pretty Scary’ Setback

Red Sox fans received good news and bad news on the Tyler O'Neill front Wednesday.

The bad news? Boston manager Alex Cora would be "pretty surprised" if O'Neill plays this week in Baltimore. The Red Sox did not active the outfielder before their series finale against the Texas Rangers, as Wednesday marked the first time O'Neill was able to resume baseball activities since the beginning of the month.

But O'Neill, who battled a stomach virus before sustaining a calf infection that landed him in the hospital for multiple days, might not need an extended ramp-up period. The slugger does not anticipate the need for a rehab assignment as he continues to progress.

"Word is, right now, no, but we'll see how long it takes," O'Neill told reporters, per The Boston Globe. "Just happy to be moving around and doing normal things. I feel like we're in a good spot now, so just making sure my body is in a good spot and get a quick little build-up in and see where we go."

The Red Sox obviously will welcome O'Neill back with open arms whenever that time comes, but offense is far from a concern for Boston these days. Alex Cora's side is putting up runs, but it must improve its pitching -- specifically relief -- if it wants to stay in the postseason conversation.

The Sox will try to string together well-rounded performances at Camden Yards, where they will meet the rival Orioles for a four-game set beginning Thursday. NESN's full coverage of the opener begins at 5:30 p.m. ET.