Just when it looked like the Boston Red Sox starting rotation was starting to finally take shape, they were dealt yet another crushing blow when Chris Sale fractured his finger in his final start of the first half.
Sale had surgery and could miss the rest of the year.
Michael Wacha is also on the injured list.
But Red Sox insider Chris Cotillo has an update on one of Boston’s injured starters, that being James Paxton, who has been out all season long.
Cotillo revealed that Paxton is still throwing bullpen sessions but is not yet to the point where he can face hitters, as he targets a mid-August return.
Checked on this today: Paxton is still throwing bullpens, not yet at the point of facing live hitters. He told a bunch of us in Toronto at the end of June that he was hoping to do live BPs either week of ASG or week after. Targeting mid-Aug. return. https://t.co/NhaOmiVh5j
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) July 21, 2022
Paxton Still Recovering
It’s been taking a little while for Paxton, who the Red Sox signed to a one-year deal this past offseason.
While a timetable being set is good news for the Red Sox, it still goes to show that at this point in the season, Paxton may not be able to do a whole lot.
This is a guy who has struggled a ton with injuries over the past few seasons.
The fact that he still isn’t ready to face hitters is a little bit concerning if you’re a Red Sox fan, especially with both Sale and Wacha out.
If the Red Sox are going to compete for a Wild Card spot, they’re going to need to pick up a starting pitcher at the trade deadline.
Nathan Eovaldi and Nick Pivetta won’t be able to carry them alone.
But when Paxton comes back, he’ll be a key addition to the Sox rotation.
How he ultimately does upon his return will determine where he is at this point in his career.
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Ibanez says
“This is a guy who has struggled a ton with injuries over the past few seasons.”
Try his entire career. It really sucks to see it, he still has a lot of velocity and good command, but he has the worst luck when it comes to injuries.