Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Garrett Whitlock appears ready to rejoin the team's starting rotation, tossing four quality innings at Triple-A Worcester in his final rehab start on Tuesday.
Whitlock has been on the injured list with elbow neuritis and tossed four innings, allowed five hits, one earned run and one walk. He also registered four strikeouts while throwing 35 of 49 pitches for strikes.
This is certainly all welcome news for Whitlock, who went on the injured list on April 28. Elbow neuritis led to Tommy John surgery for Rays pitcher Jeffrey Springs, so there was fear that could happen for Whitlock, who has already had Tommy John in his career.
Whitlock is making the full-time move to the rotation this year after spending all of 2021 in the bullpen and 2022 in a hybrid role. This season, he is 1-2 with a 6.19 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 16 innings.
For his career, he's 13-8 with a 3.06 ERA. His work in the bullpen was a major factor in the Red Sox advancing to the American League Championship Series in 2021.
He's a former Rule-5 draft selection out of the Yankees organization who has become integral to the Red Sox.
When he comes back, the team will have decisions to make in the rotation. They currently already have six starters, and will soon have seven. Brayan Bello could be ticketed for Triple-A while Nick Pivetta could be headed to the bullpen, but nothing has been officially decided yet.
At the time of this posting, the Red Sox lead the Mariners 4-0 in the third inning.
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