Red Sox Reliever Walked Off the Pitch during Practice
The Boston Red Sox are gearing up for another season, with their bullpen set to play a crucial role once again. Chris Martin, the setup man, had an outstanding performance in 2023, boasting a remarkable 1.05 ERA along with 46 strikeouts and just eight walks in 51 1/3 innings pitched. As the majority of the…
The Boston Red Sox are gearing up for another season, with their bullpen set to play a crucial role once again. Chris Martin, the setup man, had an outstanding performance in 2023, boasting a remarkable 1.05 ERA along with 46 strikeouts and just eight walks in 51 1/3 innings pitched.
As the majority of the Red Sox squad headed to the Dominican Republic for an exhibition series against the Tampa Bay Rays, Martin remained in Fort Myers to focus on his spring training regimen. However, his preparation hit a snag when he walked off the mound after just two pitches before live batting practice at JetBlue Park, as reported by Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora addressed concerns about Martin’s potential injury while in the Dominican Republic, explaining to Chris Cotillo of MassLive that it was merely a groin issue. Cora emphasized that it was more about Martin taking care of himself and reassured that there were no concerns about his arm. The team plans to monitor Martin’s condition in the coming days before deciding on the next steps.
Despite the setback, Martin had yet to make an appearance in a Grapefruit League game during spring training. Cora has been supportive of allowing Martin to progress at his own pace as he works on his ramp-up process.
This precautionary setback for Martin follows another injury concern within the team, as starting pitcher Lucas Giolito experienced discomfort in his elbow after his last spring training start on February 26. Giolito’s availability for Opening Day remains uncertain due to the injury.