Rodriguez awaits next steps in recovery
Eduardo Rodriguez, out for the season after developing myocarditis related to complications from COVID-19, is progressing well as the Red Sox determine an offseason program for his return in 2021.
The Red Sox left-hander was in Boston on Wednesday for follow-up tests related to the myocarditis, but manager Ron Roenicke didn’t know the results as of Thursday morning. The Sox considered having Rodriguez visit with the team while he’s in town but chose not to.
“We just didn’t want to take the risk of him flying commercially, if it was worth it at this time for the guys to see him,” Roenicke said.
They’ll see him soon enough. The Red Sox are being careful with their management of Rodriguez as they work to build the lefty back up to pitch a full season in 2021. After going from pitch ing more than 200 innings in a breakout season in 2019, Rodriguez obviously pitched zero this season, which makes any program he partakes in unique but complicated.
“We’re still figuring out exactly what we can expect from him next year and what’s a reasonable amount so he can pitch and be part of the rotation, but also to make sure that we don’t overdo it and don’t put him in danger at that point,” Red Sox pitching coach Dave Bush said. “We’re working on it.”
Roenicke said the most important hurdle for Rodriguez to clear next is when he can resume activities again, which is still unknown.
“I think to build him up properly for next year, hopefully he can start getting on a strength program within the next couple months, make sure he’s strong enough going into next year,” Roenicke said. “If we’re still looking at taking care of him in two or three months and he can’t do physical activity it’s going to take a long time to build him up. So hopefully he’s cleared before then and he can start getting his strength.”
Bush thrilled with Houck’s debut
Bush has a unique perspective on Tanner Houck, who dazzled in his major-league debut as he tossed five shutout innings and struck out seven. Initially hired by the Red Sox as a pitching development analyst in 2016, Bush has seen Houck all the way through from his college days to being in the dugout for his debut.
“To be able to see one player all the way through is a pretty cool and unusual experience,” Bush said. “In some ways, he’s a lot different. In other ways, he’s still very similar. He’s still relying on a twoseam fastball but we’ve added and subtracted a few things here and there the last couple of years.
“He composed himself really well, he competed very well. His command was good. He did a lot of the things we asked him to do the last couple of years. He was prepared. He was composed and prepared — and ready. It was fun to see all the way around.”
When will Pivetta go?
Nick Pivetta, acquired by the Red Sox in a trade on Aug. 21, is likely to make his Red Sox debut next week, though Roenicke isn’t showing his hand on when. The right-hander pitched six innings at the alternate site on Wednesday, and could be in line to start for the Red Sox next Tuesday against the Orioles at Fenway.
By calling up Pivetta next week, the Red Sox can manipulate his service time to get him under team control through 2024 instead of 2023, but Bush said building him up was another reason for his delayed debut.
“The big part was getting him built up to be a full length starter again,” Bush said.