The Boston Red Sox may not have their bullpen at full strength when spring training exhibition games begin.
Rookie reliever Zach Penrod, a member of the team’s 40-man roster, has been dealing with elbow soreness in Fort Myers, Florida. The 27-year-old made his major league debut last September, appearing in seven games and posting a 2.25 ERA over four innings. Now, his immediate future is uncertain.
“He had an MRI,” manager Alex Cora told reporters, via team-provided video. “We’re waiting for the results. We’ll know more (on Friday).”
Penrod dealt with a left shin injury last season after being assigned to Triple-A Worcester in March. Once healthy, he pitched in 22 games—12 as a starter—recording a 4.16 ERA with 93 strikeouts before earning a call-up to Boston. While he wasn’t expected to play a major role in the bullpen this season, the Red Sox are still hoping for a positive outcome.
“Hopefully, everything is OK,” Cora said. “With the lefties, we’ve got (Aroldis Chapman), we’ve got (Justin) Wilson, we’ve got (Brennan Bernardino), we’ve got Penrod. There’s probably more coming in the upcoming days. … Competition is good. The more, the better. (Penrod) is part of the equation.”
Penrod, who previously played in the Texas Rangers organization, went undrafted in 2018 and spent three years in independent baseball before earning his shot in the majors. If his MRI results come back clean, he’ll continue battling for a role in Boston’s bullpen. The Red Sox also have fellow left-handed relievers Jovani Morán and Sean Newcomb in camp as non-roster invitees.