Grissom set to make debut at second base
Second baseman Vaughn Grissom, who has been dealing with a grion injury, likely played his last game at Triple A Worcester.
“If everything goes well, I do believe he’s going to be with us,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Sunday, before a 5-4 win in the series finale against the Cubs at Fenway Park.
Grissom finished his final contest with the WooSox at 4 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored in an 8-5 win at Toledo.
The Sox, who sent the 23-year-old on a rehab assignment April 12, wanted to ensure Grissom accumulated enough reps at second, as well as enough at-bats.
He played in nine games for Worcester, batting .333/.444/.400 with an .844 OPS.
After Sunday’s contest, Cora reiterated that Grissom will likely join the club Tuesday at Fenway for the start of their series against the Giants.
Grissom will be paired with Ceddanne Rafaela after the Sox named the rookie as the everyday shortstop in place of the injured Trevor Story.
It’s likely that either David Hamilton or Enmanuel Valdez, both infielders, will be optioned to Worcester to make space for Grissom.
Uwasama joins bullpen
The Red Sox recalled Naoyuki Uwasawa from Worcester. To make room for Uwasawa, the club designated fellow reliever Joely Rodriguez for assignment.
Uwasawa was acquired from the Rays in a minor league trade at the end of March.
The Sox, dealing with injuries in their rotation, won’t utilize Uwasawa in a starter’s role, even though that’s the position the righthander is most accustomed to.
Before signing with Tampa Bay in January, Uwasawa, 30, spent 11 seasons pitching for the Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan.
“He’s going to provide us length [out of the bullpen],” Cora said. “The fastball is not an overpowering fastball, but it’s a good split. And that’s something we’ve been talking about throughout the weeks, the usage. It’s a good pitch.
“He pounds the strike zone. He’ll be in the bullpen, and that’s the first time he’s done that in his career except for in spring training. So, we have to make sure that he’s coming in with some leeway.”
Uwasawa noted that his splitter, which he learned while with the Rays, is his best pitch.
“Now that I’m using my splitter, I feel like the hitters have made up their mind that [I’m going to throw it],” he said through a team interpreter. “And I feel like my other pitches play off of it.”
Uwasawa made three starts for Worcester and was 2-1 with a 4.80
ERA with 17 strikeouts in 15 innings.
Rodriguez gone
The Sox cutting ties with Rodriguez was inevitable.
The club inked the lefthander to a one-year deal prior to the 2023 season; however injuries limited him to just 11 innings.
This year, Rodriguez made the team over Brennan Bernardino out of spring training after returning on a minor league deal.
Rodriguez struggled tremendously, posting a 6.55 ERA in 11 innings
(eight earned runs), which included allowing three home runs.
Cora answered to what plagued Rodriguez.
“The strike-throwing,” Cora said. “The stuff looked down, and we needed help here. We have two lefties throwing the ball well. Like I said in Seattle [before the season opener and after Bernardino] was sent down. Was it the right move? It is what it is. Joely has been a big leaguer throughout his career. He’s been good at what he does and it just didn’t happen.”
Pivetta bounces back
Injured starter Nick Pivetta (elbow) bounced back well from his live batting practice session Saturday. Cora said his staff is mapping out what’s next, but, ideally, he would like Pivetta to make a rehab start or two . . . Garrett Whitlock’s progression from his left oblique strain has been slow. Cora said that the righthander is throwing but still feels some pain when doing so . . . Cora said Saturday was the best day playing catch Brayan Bello (lat strain) and that the starter is progressing well . . . Masataka Yoshida came out of Sunday’s game in the sixth inning with a left hand bruise after getting jammed on a swing. The designated hitter’s hand was clearly swollen between his thumb and index finger, but X-rays weren’t needed at the time.
Cora noted he’s concerned given Yoshida left the contest . . . First baseman Garrett Cooper, whom the Sox acquired via trade from the Cubs Saturday, will join the team Tuesday.