Vaughn Grissom was already questionable for Opening Day, however Alex Cora supplied an replace this morning on the timeline for his second baseman’s return. “We’re speaking mid-April in all probability, [or] late April,” the Pink Sox supervisor instructed members of the media, together with Ian Browne of MLB.com. Grissom has not but appeared in a Grapefruit League sport; he has been nursing a groin pressure all spring.
Boston traded for Grissom in December, sending Chris Sale (and $17MM) to Atlanta to finish the change. The Pink Sox have been relying on the 23-year-old to be their on a regular basis second baseman in 2024. Barring a big setback, he can nonetheless fill that position, and if he returns in mid-April, he may solely miss 15-20 video games.
When information of Grissom’s harm first broke, Cora instructed Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe that Enmanuel Valdez would fill in at second base. Valdez began 44 video games on the keystone for the Pink Sox final season. He slashed a wonderfully respectable .266/.311/.453 in 149 plate appearances, with eight doubles and 6 residence runs. Nevertheless, he took practically 90% of his plate appearances with the platoon benefit and went 2-for-14 towards left-handed pitching. Thus, Pablo Reyes is prone to seize some begins at second with a southpaw on the mound.
In pitching information from Pink Sox camp, Cora instructed reporters (together with Sean McAdam of MassLive) that Josh Winckowski is now not within the operating for the Opening Day rotation, and he’ll doubtless transfer to the bullpen to start the season. As Browne factors out, that leaves Tanner Houck, Garrett Whitlock, and Cooper Criswell competing for the ultimate two jobs on Boston’s beginning employees. Brayan Bello, Nick Pivetta, and Kutter Crawford will maintain down the highest three spots.
Winckowski pitched nicely out of the bullpen final season, posting a 2.88 ERA in 84 1/3 innings of labor. His 3.84 SIERA and three.82 xERA have been extra good than nice, however there is no such thing as a denying he was an efficient reliever, particularly towards left-handed opponents. The identical can’t be stated for his time as a beginning pitcher the 12 months earlier than. Over 70 1/3 innings, Winckowski pitched to a 5.89 ERA, 4.84 xERA, and 4.82 SIERA, hanging out a mere 44 batters whereas strolling 27. Nonetheless, the 25-year-old instructed Rob Bradford of WEEI that he nonetheless considers himself a beginning pitcher.
Whereas Cora advised Winckowski would doubtless fill a multi-inning position on the MLB stage, he didn’t utterly shut down the likelihood that the righty may start the season as a starter at Triple-A (per McAdam). “We nonetheless have gotten selections to make,” stated the skipper. “We’ll transition him now to the bullpen… and we’ll make selections after that.”
Out of Houck, Whitlock, and Criswell, a trio of tall, 27-year-old right-handers, it looks as if the previous two have the sting over the latter. Houck and Whitlock have considerably extra huge league expertise, and each have been serviceable out of the rotation for Boston in 2023. Houck has a profession 3.86 ERA in 252 innings, whereas Whitlock has a profession 3.51 in 223 1/3 frames. Criswell has pitched nicely this spring, however it will be exhausting to argue he has executed sufficient to edge out both of his extra confirmed teammates.
Turning again to the bullpen, Cora talked about an fascinating title to Christopher Smith of MassLive: Cam Booser. Booser will flip 32 in Might. He has hung out within the Twins, Diamondbacks, and Pink Sox organizationx. He has by no means been chosen to a 40-man roster, not to mention pitched within the main leagues. But Booser was the primary title the supervisor talked about, stating his upper-90s fastball velocity and the best way he has landed “offspeed pitches for strikes.”
That stated, Cora was additionally clear to emphasise the worth of expertise. Brennan Bernardino, who already has a spot on the 40-man roster, made 55 appearances final 12 months with a 3.20 ERA. Joely Rodríguez, a non-roster invitee, has pitched in 168 video games over six huge league seasons. Chris Murphy, one other 40-man arm, discovered reasonable success as a multi-inning reliever final season, tossing 47 2/3 frames over 20 appearances with the Pink Sox. Cora introduced up all three of their names in the identical dialogue, and it’s exhausting to think about Booser beating out any of them for a spot on the Opening Day roster.
Nonetheless, it’s changing into clear that Booser is a reputation to control this season. He has given up simply two runs in eight innings this spring, hanging out eight and strolling none.