The Boston Red Sox have had to deal with numerous injuries over the last couple of weeks and there appears to be no signs of slowing down.
The significant and likely season-ending elbow injury to right-hander Lucas Giolito was the biggest headline from Fort Myers this week but he's far from the only injured Red Sox player.
Each day more ailments come to light, including one hurler whose comeback trail could be extended.
"Zack Kelly has a sore oblique making him a candidate to start the season on the injured list," MLB.com's Ian Browne reported Thursday.
Kelly posted a 3.86 ERA with a six-to-eight strikeout-to-walk ratio, .219 batting average against and 1.61 WHIP in just 9 1/3 innings last season but missed majority of the season after having ulnar nerve transportation revision surgery.
Now the 29-year-old has a much smaller ailment that could delay his season, though Kelly is confident that he'll be ready to go for Opening Day.
"Zack Kelly said he expects to pitch off the mound by sometime next week and expects his oblique tweak to not impact availability for the beginning of season," WEEI's Rob Bradford reported Thursday.
Kelly will have to hope that the trainers and staff are as optimistic as he is, we've seen players make similar declarations and then be held back by the organization.
The young hurler is far from the only player injured in Red Sox camp. It was also reported today that Tyler O'Neill is dealing with left calf tightness that will keep him off the field for a few days. Shortstop Trevor Story was a late scratch for neck stiffness on Thursday.
Newcomers Vaughn Grissom and Giolito already are on the shelf as is the team's lone All-Star from last season, closer Kenley Jansen.
Most of the aforementioned ailments are short-term but it's tough to see a roster with so little depth be hampered this early on.
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