Red Sox ace Chris Sale is slated to take another important step on his road back from Tommy John surgery.
The left-hander is slated to face live hitters for the first time since undergoing the procedure this coming Saturday at Fenway Park, Sox manager Alex Cora announced prior to Tuesday’s game against the Rays at Tropicana Field.
Sale, who was with the team during their latest homestand earlier this month, has been getting work in with some of the club’s affiliates since they hit the road last Monday.
On Friday, the 32-year-old hurler tossed a 45-pitch bullpen session at Triple-A Worcester’s Polar Park. On Tuesday, he threw another 45 pitches during a bullpen session on the mound at Double-A Portland’s Hadlock Field.
Per the Portland Press Herald’s Kevin Thomas, Sale threw to hitters, though they were not swinging, while mixing in all his pitches and topping out at 92 mph with his fastball over the course of two simulated innings.
Sale underwent Tommy John surgery on March 30, 2020 — his 31st birthday — so it goes without saying that the seven-time All-Star is inching closer and closer towards a rehab assignment, with him facing live hitters for the first time in well over a year being the next milestone to reach in this arduous process.
“He’s in a good position,” Cora said of Sale. “He feels great. I’ll get the feedback probably later on. I’ll talk to him tomorrow morning, and we’ll keep moving forward.”
(Picture of Chris Sale: Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
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