BOSTON -- Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet graduated from the tedious part of his rehab for left shoulder inflammation by throwing a fourth side session within 10 days at Fenway Park on Saturday.
In the planned next step, Crochet will face hitters at Fenway on Tuesday.
“Next step is a live [batting practice],” Crochet said. “Feeling good, feeling confident in the throw. Mechanics are in a good spot. That’s kind of the sucky part of all this, is that’s all I have to focus on right now. But trying not to be too internal with it.”
Presumably, Crochet would throw against hitters again five days after that, be it another live BP, a simulated game or possibly a Minor League rehab start.
“If we're going to do it on Tuesday, how many ups are there?" said Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy. “Are we going to do an assignment after that, or is he going to want another one? We’ve just got to see how he comes out of today, what we're planning on doing Tuesday, and then that would become a little bit more of a clear picture.”
Crochet’s return to the active roster could come around the second week of June. But it is all based on how Crochet feels, and what kind of pitch count the Red Sox want him to be on when he makes his first start back with the club.
In six starts before going on the 15-day injured list, Crochet was 3-3 with a 6.30 ERA. However, Crochet’s last start was one of his best, as he fired six scoreless innings at Camden Yards against the Orioles on April 25, walking two and striking out seven.
Fortunately for the Red Sox, the starting rotation has excelled for the most part during Crochet’s absence.