Injured Red Sox Setup Man Shut Down From Throwing Program

The Boston Red Sox were hit hard with injuries over the first three months of the season, but that trend seems to be reversing itself following Masataka Yoshida’s return from the injured list on Wednesday and recent reports indicating that Alex Bregman will be making his return sometime this weekend.

While the returns of Yoshida and Bregman will certainly bolster the Red Sox lineup, the team’s bullpen is still without two key contributors. Right-handed reliever Liam Hendriks was moved to the 60-day IL earlier this week and will require more time to recover from right hip inflammation.

A report on Thursday from MassLive‘s Christopher Smith revealed discouraging news about Justin Slaten, who was placed on the 60-day IL on June 28 with right shoulder inflammation. Speaking to Alex Cora before the Red Sox opened a series against the Tampa Bay Rays, Cora was hesitant to label the situation as a setback.

“Right now he’s doing plyos, trying to get the strength back,” said Cora per Smith. “So that’s where we’re at right now. I don’t want to call it a setback. Playing catch is nothing different (than) like what they’re doing in the gym.”

With Hendriks and Slaten both sidelined, the Red Sox acquired right-hander reliever Jordan Hicks from the Giants last month in the five-player swap that saw the Red Sox deal disgruntled former All-Star Rafael Devers to San Francisco.

Before his injury, Slaten was 1-4 with a 3.47 ERA, three saves, and 16 strikeouts in 23 1/3 innings. The 27-year-old established himself as an important piece in the Red Sox bullpen last year with a record of 6-2 and a 2.93 ERA during 44 appearances.