Sale makes first start since July 2022
Red Sox P takes big step in his comeback
“Today was a good day,” Chris Sale told reporters after making his first start, not only of the preseason, but since a line-drive shot fractured his pinky in the first inning of a game at Yankee Stadium last July.
“It was nice to get that first one out of the way,” he said.
This is the veteran lefty’s first “normal” spring since 2019, and he’s been itching to get in the game. The pandemic, Tommy John surgery, and rib, pinky, and wrist fractures are on the list of what’s derailed the last three years of his career.
“Appreciation is not even enough for what, how I feel,” he said when discussing the many people in the organization who’ve helped him get back in the game.
“I’m a baseball player. I’ve done this my whole life. I couldn’t tell you my first memory of playing baseball, because I did it before I knew anything. And that got taken away, for quite a while. And it was frustrating,” he said. “There are tougher times to be had, but you know, I went through a tough time.
“I got it back. And I just, I appreciate it more. I’m trying to have more fun with it, I’m trying to be more open-minded, I’m trying to, you know, soak more things in, and just really appreciate it, because I was 21 not too long ago. First time in spring training, walking around a room, just eyes wide open, looking at these big guys walking around this clubhouse. And I’m here now, and it went fast. And there might’ve been some days I could’ve maybe appreciated things more. Just don’t want that to happen anymore.”
Sale’s spring debut lasted two innings, in which he allowed a pair of hits, struck out two, and didn’t surrender a walk or run. He displayed solid command of the zone, with 24 strikes in 31 total pitches. By his own account, he “threw everything: fastball, changeup, slider.”
“Excellent, excellent,” Alex Cora told reporters after the game, though he also mentioned Sale’s pitch clock violation and a missed opportunity to cover first base for an additional out. “Spring training for everybody, right? Good pitches, good changeup, good fastball, velo was up,” he said.
Reiterating what he told the Herald last month, Sale’s focus has been command, not velocity. “Today was the first time I’ve seen a number since I started throwing again,” he told reporters, including MLB’s Ian Browne.
He reached 96 mph on Monday.
After besting a comebacker to end the second inning, which had to feel good given that a comebacker had gotten the best of him in his last game, the 33-year-old lefty walked off the mound smiling.
His day done, he caught up with NESN’s Jahmai Webster in the top of the third. How did it feel, Webster asked.
“It was awesome.”
Six innings later, he was credited with the win.
Injury updates
On Monday morning, Alex Cora offered an update on two of the club’s three hamstring strains, all of which occurred within the last four days.
James Paxton threw from his knees on Sunday, and Connor Wong has been running in the pool and did “a few agility drills.”
Wong suffered a lowgrade hamstring strain on Thursday, Paxton sustained the same the following day. Wilyer Abreu, the organization’s No. 23 prospect, became the third on Sunday.
Quick hits
Raimel Tapia continues to make his case for the 26man roster. He sent a ball to the centerfield triangle for an RBI-double in the first, then hit a solo home run in the third. He’s also the proud owner of a rare inside-the-park grand slam (in the Blue Jays’ 28-run rout at Fenway last summer), so the Red Sox know he can hit in Boston.
Same for catcher Jorge Alfaro, who had a 3-hit, 2-RBI game on Monday. He’s signed to a minorleague contract, but the way he’s hitting, and with Wong one of the club’s three hamstring injuries, there’s a good chance Alfaro makes the cut.
Rob Refsnyder continues to be quietly clutch for the Red Sox. He made an impressive diving catch in left during Sale’s second inning.
Ryan Brasier pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings on Monday.