Cora pleased with E-Rod’s progress
Lefty ‘looks good’ against live hitters
Eduardo Rodriguez threw to live hitters for the first time this spring on Tuesday at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, a significant step for the Red Sox left-hander after missing the 2020 season due to myocarditis.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora was impressed with how Rodriguez looked during his live session, saying he saw much of the same pitcher from this time in 2019, when he went on to have a breakout season.
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“He looks good,” Cora said. “The usual. Under control, not too much effort with the ball coming out of his hand the way it used to. He looks good. For a guy that didn’t compete and didn’t pitch last year, he looks very similar to what we saw in ‘19 in spring training working his craft, working hitting his spots, trying to get better. I’m happy for him personally. It wasn’t easy for him last year and for him to be able to show up and do normal things as a regular baseball player is good for him.”
The lefty drew a crowd of teammates, coaches and staffers for his session on Tuesday, an acknowledgement of the significance of the event. Cora has said that the Red Sox will be cautious with Rodriguez, but he’s under no restrictions.
J.D. Martinez was among those who took some swings against Rodriguez on Tuesday. The two trained together during some of the offseason, and Martinez is looking forward to big things from the lefty in 2021.
“Eddie’s Eddie. He’s a trip, man,” Martinez said. “He’s fun to work out with. He’s a fun guy to be around. He’s always joking around. He’s got a really good personality. But he seems ready. … He’s going to be, we missed him a lot last year. He’s a big part of our team and our success for the future. We’re going to need him. He’s getting ready and we’re excited to have him back, that’s for sure.”
Nick Pivetta, who was acquired in a trade from the Phillies last season and has eyes on a rotation spot, and top pitching prospect Bryan Mata also threw live batting practice on Tuesday.
Martinez sees longer Sox future
Martinez has another optout in his contract after the 2021 season and his deal ends in 2022, but he hopes to stay with the Red Sox longer than that.
Martinez, who signed a five-year, $110 million deal during spring training in 2018, has enjoyed great success during his first three years in Boston despite a horrendous 2020 campaign, and it doesn’t sound like he prefers to be anywhere else.
Asked Tuesday if he sees a long future with the Red Sox beyond his contract, the 33year-old Martinez said it’s something he wants.
“That’s what I’m hoping, honestly,” Martinez said. “I’ve hoped that since the first time I signed here. This is a special organization. A lot of guys don’t get to play for the Red Sox, the Yankees, the Dodgers, the Cubs, like those historic franchises. So anytime you get to go into one of those franchises, it’s just a family at that point. Especially when you’ve been there for a while and you win, you become one of those names where you’re known forever.
“Everyone I feel like in Red Sox history will forever know David Ortiz and Pedro Martinez, and those guys that have been here for years so obviously it’s one of those things where that would obviously be a dream.”
Martinez in touch with JBJ
Martinez has stayed in contact with Jackie Bradley Jr., who is still a free agent, and said the center fielder told him he has multiple offers but is waiting for “one person to take the next step so he can go ahead and sign.”
If Bradley ends up signing elsewhere, which seems likely, Martinez will miss him.
“He’s a big loss. I love Jackie,” Martinez said.
“Obviously we’ve gotten close over the years. He’s a great teammate. He’s a great player. He’s a big part of our success since I’ve been here. I wish him the best in everything he does. I hope he gets the most for himself and his family. Obviously, if we do lose him, it will be a blow. He is, to me, the best center fielder in the game defensively, obviously.”
Yorke’s first camp
Nick Yorke, the Red Sox’ first-round draft pick last year, is soaking up his first spring training by learning from some established major leaguers. This spring, that’s what it’s all about for the 18year-old infielder, who only graduated high school last year.
“I asked him one question. I go, ‘So, who are you going to follow in spring training? Who’s the guy that you’re going to ask questions and you’re going to follow?’” Cora said he asked. “And he goes, Enrique Hernandez .I said, ‘That’s a good one. Who else are you going to follow?’ He goes, J.D. I said, ‘No, no no, don’t follow J.D. right now. Let’s keep it simple and I said just follow Xander. Follow Xander Bogaerts from 7 a.m. until whenever we’re done and you’ll be in a good spot.’
“That’s what we want from him. We know he has potential, but he’s here. Kind of like when (Bobby) Dalbec went to Fenway for a week in 2019. He’s going to spend a lot of time with us and that’s what I want him to do. Just learn, keep working, understand what it takes to be a big-leaguer and he’ll be a bigleaguer. He’ll be a big-leaguer.”