FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Red Sox knuckleballer Steven Wright will start the season on the 10-day disabled list after getting a PRP injection in his surgically repaired left knee.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora stressed that Wright -- who underwent a cartilage-restoration procedure on his left knee on May 8, 2017 -- did not suffer a setback.
"It's just part of the process," said Cora. "I think we pushed him hard enough, but now we ran out of time. So we're going to make sure he takes his time. Whatever it is, sooner rather than later. He's in a good spot, but we ran out of time with him."
The DL move was made effective Monday, meaning Wright will be eligible to be activated April 5.
However, as soon as the Red Sox place him on the roster, he will move to the restricted list and begin serving a 15-game suspension that was handed down last week under Major League Baseball's Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy.
This means the earliest Wright can pitch for the Red Sox is April 22.
At that point, the club will have to decide if Wright will be used in the rotation or the bullpen.
Wright was one of three Boston starters placed on the DL on Monday, joining Eduardo Rodriguez and Thomas Pomeranz.
The Sox will open the season with a rotation of Chris Sale, David Price, Rick Porcello, Hector Velazquez and Christopher Johnson.
Wright was an American League All-Star for the Red Sox in 2016, going 13-6 with a 3.33 ERA.