BRADENTON, Fla. -- Red Sox reliever Tyler Thornburg will be shut down for the next week, manager John Farrell announced on Tuesday. Thornburg underwent an MRI on his right shoulder on Tuesday morning and will be re-evaluated in seven to 10 days.
"He is dealing with some impingement in his shoulder," Farrell said. "There's a little bit of inflammation in there."
Thornburg has not appeared in a game since March 1 because of discomfort in the upper trapezius muscle on his throwing side. In his only two outings of the spring, Thornburg was tagged for nine runs (seven earned) on seven hits in just 1 1/3 innings.
"Any time you lose a player for long, you are always concerned about there well-being," Farrell said. "As far the prognosis, we feel like he'll be back in due time."
The 28-year-old righty was acquired this offseason from the Brewers after he had a breakout season in 2016. Thornburg had a 2.15 ERA last year with 90 strikeouts in 67 innings.
With Thornburg likely to start the season on the disabled list, Matt Barnes, Joe Kelly and Richard Hembree are the frontrunners to fill in the eighth-inning setup role. Kelly struck out two in a scoreless inning of relief on Tuesday vs. the Pirates.
"They are all going to gain responsibility," Farrell said.
Hanley progressing
Hanley Ramirez continued to work his way back onto the field, but he it isn't likely to see the field for the remainder of the spring. Ramirez's right shoulder has limited him to serving as designated hitter mostly this spring, and it also forced him to forego this year's World Baseball Classic.
Ramirez threw long toss from 90 feet on Tuesday morning at the team's complex in Fort Myers, Fla.
"That volume is increasing," Farrell said. "While that's an improvement, to say that he is going to be on the field in the next day or two, I'll have to check out with Hanley as he checks out with the medical staff tomorrow."
Rutledge injured
Infielder Josh Rutledge singled in his first at-bat on Tuesday but was pulled for a pinch-runner after straining his left hamstring while rounding second base.
"It definitely kind of puts you down a bit but you just come back stronger," Rutledge said.
Rutledge had been getting additional playing time at first base, a position he hasn't played since he was 7 years old, according to him. Rutledge started at first vs. the Pirates.
"That's not connected to Hanley at all," Farrell said. "That's to make sure if there are situations where we match up on a day with Hanley in the DH spot and we end up with another first baseman. Getting him some reps and getting him comfortable, that's our goal over the last couple days, including tonight."
It was not immediately clear how serious Rutledge's injury is.
"Kind of untimely given where we are in camp for him," Farrell said.