Ailing Price making progress, able to play catch

While there is still no timetable for David Price’s return to game activity, the Boston Red Sox got a small amount of good news on the lefthander’s ailing elbow.

“There was a series of strength tests done this morning in the training room and (we) felt like he was improved to the point of initiating more throwing,” manager John Farrell said.

That progress allowed Price to take part in a brief game of catch Saturday.

“Not off a mound but just to get the arm moving with a ball in flight and will continue in this phase for a period of time,” Farrell said. “There’s no set distance and volume yet to the throws.”

Price was optimistic after his game of catch.

“Felt good,” he said. “Felt normal. No restrictions. So it was a good day.”

Price is not expected to pitch in a game before May. He wants to be sure he is fully healed before he returns.

“I’ve been through this before,” he said. “It’s not something you want to have to go through. But if you do it the right way and treat it the right way, you can come back stronger and ready to go.” Classic, complained of midsection soreness brought on by extensive coughing and requested one more day off.

“I’d like to play some games and have a true lineup, but even today where it feels like everybody’s back, then all the sudden we don’t have Correa in the lineup,” Hinch said.