For starters, Eovaldi looking good early on
10 notes from Summer Camp at Fenway
1. Red Sox pitcher Collin McHugh surprised manager Ron Roenicke in the Red Sox’ first official “summer camp” workout on Friday by participating with the healthy pitchers. McHugh, who was signed in March but not expected to be ready until late this season due to an offseason procedure on his right elbow, is not sure if he’ll be ready for Opening Day on July 23 but is optimistic.
2. McHugh was involved in the talks with the players and admitted he was frustrated to spend three months negotiating with owners on the basis of a season without fans in the stands, only for the teams to then announce they’re trying to get fans in the stands this year. “The economic ramifications of that we’re kind of the main driving factor in the middle of those negotiations,” he said. “So to hear they want to potentially put fans in the stands at some point this season, it does kind of fly in the face of the premises that we were negotiating on. To that point it was a little frustrating.”
3. Sophomore infielder Michael Chavis is becoming a social media star. After making the trip to Boston from Florida, Chavis shared a social media post of his new locker set-up. He’s suitemates with fellow sophomore Alex Verdugo and said he’s enjoying trying to connect with Red Sox fans. “One thing I’ve noticed from just this is to see how guys are going to use their creativity to either engage with the fans in a different way, or to show a different light or change their routines to make the day-to-day aspect either more familiar or just more consistent for this season. I’m interested to see and excited to see how guys’ creativity comes out through this weird time.”
4. Chavis, who worked out at second base on Friday, had been in Fort Myers during the pandemic and feels like his swing won’t be rusty at all. “I was able to work out in the complex until it got shut down a couple of times,” he said. “We even hit today and I feel really good about where my swing’s at and I feel good about what I did in preparation for this time. … I lost a little bit of weight not having the same access to the weight room. Just maintaining my physical shape by running and doing whatever I can, workouts in the house, pushups whenever I’m dying in Fortnite or something like that. Just fun things to stay in shape and stay engaged.”
5. The Red Sox seem committed to a five-man starting rotation, despite only having two above-average starters on the staff in Eduardo Rodriguez and Nathan Eovaldi, with Martin Perez in the third spot and competition in the fourth and fifth spots. “We still have open competition at the back of the rotation,” said pitching coach Dave Bush. “We still have extra spots, with a 30-man roster to start with, we have some flexibility if we want to carry some extra guys, go with a traditional starter in the fifth spot, those things are to be determined. They’re up for grabs right now.” Ryan Weber is the leader in the clubhouse for the No. 4 spot.
6. One player who is showing no signs of rust is Eovaldi. “Nate looks great,” Bush said. “I was in contact with him and everyone else throughout the layoff. He’s been throwing to a catcher on a weekly rotation for a little while now. He’s built up quite a bit of pitches. He feels strong, looks good. He came in a few days early this week so I’ve seen him throw twice already. He’ll be ready to face hitters very soon and slide into a five-day cycle. He’s always strong, always in shape.”
7. It’s uncertain whether or not Rodriguez, Eovaldi and Perez will be ready to go in time for Opening Day. “The 21 days certainly is going to be tough for the starting pitchers,” Roenicke said. “It’s going to be tougher. I think the relievers, we’ll be able to get them ready in time and simply because they’ve been throwing bullpens at home, they’ve been throwing one inning, some of the guys, three, four times a week. I’m pretty confident that the pitching is going to be ready in the bullpen. Obviously the starting pitching is the concern.”
8. MLB’s best player, Mike Trout, made headlines Friday with his suggestion that he might not play the full 2020 season. His wife is pregnant. “Honestly, I still don’t feel that comfortable,” Trout told reporters. “It’s gonna be tough. I’ve got to be really cautious these next couple weeks. I don’t want to test positive. I don’t want to bring it back to my wife. It’s a tough situation we’re in.”
9. MLB canceled the 2020 All-Star Game, which was supposed to be held at Dodger Stadium later this month. The Dodgers were awarded the 2022 All-Star Game instead.
10. Dodgers owner Stan Kasten said it’s likely most teams will use artificial crowd noise for TV purposes this season. The Red Sox have not yet announced how they’ll handle that.