BOSTON — Given the twin struggles of Walker Buehler in Boston and a rehabbing Tanner Houck in Worcester, the Red Sox could use some additional starting depth as soon as possible.
They may have a candidate in Patrick Sandoval, but it’s going to take a bit longer for him to contribute.
Sandoval, who signed a two-year deal with the Red Sox last winter, underwent Tommy John surgery almost exactly a year ago.
“I still have a ways to go,” conceded Sandoval. “I have more bullpens, I’ve got to mix in more breaking balls into my bullpens. I don’t want to put an amount of days or weeks on it (to when he’ll begin a minor league assignment), but it’s in the near future, for sure.”
Sandoval has been going full tilt with his fastballs in bullpen sessions of late and feels no restrictions.
“It’s TJ rehab, so there’s some ups and some downs,” said Sandoval. “But overall, I think it’s going pretty well. I’d say I’m pretty close to 100 percent effort (with my fastball). I’m putting my foot on the gas and letting it eat. Now, it’s just about building stamina and regaining arm strength.”
The lefty is throwing two bullpens per week. After incorporating breaking pitches into those sessions, he’ll need a few live batting practice sessions against hitters before beginning an assignment with a top minor league affiliate.
“I started flipping some curveballs into my throwing program,” he said. “It should be some point soon where I’m mixing in all the pitches and getting some ‘lives’ in.”
Sandoval had set a goal last winter of pitching in the big leagues this season and reiterated Monday that that remains the goal.
“That’s still within reach,” he said. “I’ll do whatever I can to make that happen. I made it my goal that I want to help this team. We have all the talent in the world and this is a playoff roster for sure. (Contributing) to it is what I want to do — help this team down the stretch this year and help us into the playoffs, or get us through the playoffs, whatever the team needs me to do.”
There are no shortage of teammates in the clubhouse who have been through the arduous process of overcoming Tommy John surgery, including Liam Hendricks, Lucas Giolito and Garrett Crochet.
“That’s been very helpful,” he said, “especially when stuff pops up, or I’m feeling a little sore in different places. It helps to hear that I’m not the only one (who’s dealt with it) and I’m not going to be the last one to deal with pain or soreness.”