As the Red Sox trudged through a tough 1-5 stretch in their recent road trip through Los Angeles and Colorado after the All-Star break, righthander Justin Slaten couldn’t help but feel a gnawing sense of helplessness. Watching his team squander three games where they held leads in the eighth inning or later was a bitter pill to swallow, especially while he was sidelined back in Boston due to an injury.
Slaten’s stint on the injured list, which began right before the All-Star break due to right elbow inflammation, left him watching from afar as the Sox struggled. Despite his impressive stats — a 5-2 record with a 3.38 ERA, a 26% strikeout rate, and a mere 5% walk rate — he felt powerless to influence the games from thousands of miles away. “It sucks. Obviously, they’re over on the West Coast battling and I’m sitting in my apartment here in Boston. Watching the games hurts,” Slaten shared. “At times, it’s hard to feel like you’re a part of the team whenever you’re sitting in your apartment in Boston at 1:30 in the morning watching the game on the West Coast. That’s all part of the mental struggle — just getting through that point.”
Originally, both Slaten and the Sox hoped his stint on the IL would be a brief 15 days. Unfortunately, his recovery didn’t progress as quickly as hoped. However, recent signs are promising. Slaten has been seeing noticeable improvement in his condition while playing catch on the field. Though there's no set timeline for his return, he's approaching a stage where he’ll begin throwing bullpen sessions off a mound. This step is crucial for his eventual rehab assignment and return to the team.
“Things are going to start kind of ramping up for us hopefully sooner rather than later,” Slaten said. “If I can make it to where I only miss a few games here, that’s going to be better for me and for the team than missing the rest of the season because we tried to push it too fast.” His determination to return as soon as possible is a testament to his commitment to the team and his eagerness to contribute.
Meanwhile, first baseman Triston Casas, who has been out of action for more than three months due to torn cartilage in his ribcage, has begun to take significant steps toward recovery. Casas has started hitting indoors and is working with a high-speed machine as well as simulated big league pitching from the team’s Trajekt machine. Although he still has some hurdles to clear before returning to play, the signs are positive. The Red Sox are optimistic that he might be ready for a rehab assignment by late next week.
“He feels good — much better than a few weeks ago, which is awesome,” said Sox manager Alex Cora. “He’s trending in the right direction.” Casas’ return is eagerly anticipated, and his recovery will likely play a pivotal role in the Sox’s performance in the latter part of the season.
Given that Casas has missed half a season, it’s natural to wonder if he’ll need a longer rehab stint to get back into game shape. The Red Sox plan to let Casas set the pace for his minor league assignments. “A lot of that’s going to be driven by his comfort,” explained Craig Breslow, the Red Sox’s chief baseball officer. “Those conversations amongst [Cora], the medical staff, Triston, and me will determine the duration of a rehab assignment. But to some degree, we’re going to have to lean on him when he tells us that he’s ready.” This approach underscores the importance of player feedback in the recovery process.
In terms of other players, there’s good news on the horizon. Like Slaten, righthander Chris Martin is also on the mend from elbow inflammation. Recent progress in his throwing sessions suggests that a bullpen session could be in the near future for both him and Slaten. This development could provide a much-needed boost to the Red Sox’s pitching staff.
In a different vein, recent activities at Fenway Park have been buzzing with excitement. Second-round pick Payton Tolle, a left-handed pitcher, and eighth-round two-way player Conrad Cason have been seen at Fenway, signaling that their contracts are close to being finalized. Adding to the excitement, several Red Sox draftees, including 19th-rounder D’Angelo Ortiz — the son of Hall of Famer David Ortiz — have been making waves with Instagram posts announcing their signings at the team’s extended spring training complex in Fort Myers, Fla.
Righthander Liam Hendriks also made headlines with a bullpen session that exceeded 30 pitches, according to Cora. His return is eagerly anticipated and could provide a significant boost to the bullpen as the season progresses. Meanwhile, left-hander Zach Penrod, who had been out since June 6 with a leg injury, made a striking return to the WooSox rotation. Penrod struck out six of seven batters he faced through the first two innings before allowing two runs on three hits in the third. His impressive performance is a promising sign for the Sox as they look for left-handed depth options.
In a lighter note, former Red Sox and Yankees leadoff hitter Johnny Damon made an appearance at Fenway Park. The game was also marked by a moment of silence for Boston philanthropist and businessman Jack Connors Jr., who passed away earlier in the week. This tribute highlighted the impact of Connors on the Boston community and the respect he garnered throughout his life.
As the Red Sox navigate the remainder of the season, the health and return of key players like Slaten, Casas, and Martin will be crucial. With promising signs of recovery and the team’s ongoing efforts to bolster their roster, fans have plenty to look forward to.
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