BOSTON -- Red Sox pitchers Eduardo Rodriguez and Carson Smith continue to take important steps as they recover from injuries sustained during Spring Training.
Red Sox manager John Farrell said Saturday that Smith successfully threw 35 pitches during batting practice earlier in the day. The next step for the hard-throwing right-hander, who is recovering from a right flexor muscle strain, will be to toss batting practice and a simulated game on Tuesday and Thursday.
If that goes according to plan, Smith will then pitch in an extended spring game next Saturday.
"This coming week will be a good test for him," said Farrell.
Rodriguez, who suffered a patella subluxation in his right knee at the beginning of Spring Training, had no pain after throwing 50 pitches in a simulated game on Wednesday. The left-hander's pitch count will increase when he throws another simulated game on Monday.