Key Red Sox reliever feeling better, despite dealing with tough injury

It’s unclear when the Red Sox are going to get one of their key off-season additions back in the bullpen, but the latest news is a little promising.

Reliever Joely Rodriguez, who has the distinction of being the first free agent to sign with the Red Sox as a free agent in the off-season, is dealing with a Grade 2 oblique strain. Oblique injuries are notoriously tough to come back from for baseball players, since they occur along the hips and pelvis. You can imagine how hard it would be to pitch or swing a bat with a strained oblique.

Fortunately, Rodriguez seems to be on the positive side of things when it comes to his oblique strain.

• Via Alex Speier of the Boston Globe, Rodriguez recently said he’s “felt steadily better in the days since” the injury. In addition, Rodriguez is expected to avoid the 60-day injured list. That was certainly a possibility for an injury like an oblique strain.

  Red Sox Manager Alex Cora recently told reporters there is no official timetable for Rodriguez’s return, adding bluntly: “He’ll be back when he is healthy.”

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  Sep 30, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Joely Rodriguez (30) reacts after rolling his sleeves up against the Atlanta Braves in the eighth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

• It’s telling, however, that there’s basically a spot on the Red Sox’ pitching staff waiting for Rodriguez for when he’s ready. The 31-year-old southpaw signed with Boston in November with the idea that he’d be the go-to lefty specialist out of the bullpen.

  Currently, Richard Bleier is the only other lefty on the Red Sox’ active roster that is projected to pitch in relief. Cora said recently that he’s undecided how the Red Sox plan to replace Rodriguez on the roster at the start of the season.

  For now, the Sox will have to figure out a different way to get left-handed batters out in the late innings.

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• Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @realmattdolloff. Check out all of Matt’s content here.