Oviedo said: “This is a surprise.”
On Tuesday, Cora said the Red Sox were “positive” Oviedo was healthy amid his diminished velocity at the end of spring training and in his ineffective season debut Monday. On Wednesday, according to Cora, Oviedo “came in sore,” so the Sox had him checked out.
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An MRI “showed what it showed,” Cora said.
Oviedo said the discomfort is “where the scar is” from last time.
“When I woke up [Wednesday] morning, I couldn’t bend or flex my arm,” Oviedo said. “The range of motion is not there. A little bit of pain, but it feels locked.”
It wasn’t clear if the Sox are concerned about damage specifically to Oviedo’s ulnar collateral ligament — the Tommy John ligament — or if a second surgery might be needed.
“We just have to be patient with it and just wait for that [doctor feedback] to happen,” Cora said. “I believe they’re going to compare the MRIs [from now and the past] and see where we’re at and then go from there.”
In the 28 months since his operation, Oviedo has pitched in just 10 games — nine starts with the Pirates near the end of last season, plus the relief appearance with the Red Sox this week.
The Red Sox acquired Oviedo in December in a five-player trade that included outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia joining the Pirates.
Whitlock on paternity leave
The rest of the roster tweaks were led by Garrett Whitlock going onto the paternity list, while righthanders Zack Kelly and Tyler Uberstine were called up from Triple-A Worcester.
Whitlock is allowed to miss up to three days. His wife, Jordan, gave birth to their second child Thursday, Cora said.
“[Length of absence is] his decision, and I’m all for it,” Cora said. “She’s been by herself the whole time, and there’s another little one there, so take care of them, and then get here when he gets here.”
Kelly, 31, was a surprise cut late in spring training after spending most of camp looking likely to crack the Opening Day roster. He has pitched in 98 games for the Sox over the past four seasons.
For the 26-year-old Uberstine, the promotion was his first. He has as improbable a baseball path as you will find — barely pitched in high school, attended Southern Cal as a regular student/non-athlete, walked on the baseball team at Northwestern as a junior — so the occasion of his arrival for the home opener was a remarkable one.
“Pretty surreal. Pretty amazing,” said Uberstine. “I’m really just trying to soak it all in.”
The Sox celebrated their 1986 team during pregame ceremonies, marking the 40th anniversary of its American League championship.
Two dozen players from the ’86 club emerged from the Green Monster and walked to the infield to steady applause. Wade Boggs, Dwight Evans, and Jim Rice in particular drew loud cheers.
Marty Barrett and Bruce Hurst threw out ceremonial first pitches (caught by Connor Wong and Garrett Crochet, respectively).
Also in attendance: Tony Armas, Oil Can Boyd, Mike Brown, Steve Crawford, Pat Dodson, Rich Gedman, Rene Lachemann, Tim Lollar, Spike Owen, Ed Romero, Joe Sambito, Dave Sax, Calvin Schiraldi, Jeff Sellers, Bob Stanley, Mike Stenhouse, Marc Sullivan, Mike Trujillo, and Rob Woodward.
Walpole native Joe Morgan, 95, the bullpen coach in 1986 and manager from 1988-91, was on the field for the goings-on.
Aroldis Chapman’s save was the 369th of his career, passing Jonathan Papelbon for 11th most all time. Next on the list: Joe Nathan with 377 . . . The Red Sox’ record in Fenway Park openers: 65-60 . . . The Red Sox hired Steve Sweeney, a 31-year veteran of the Boston Police Department, as director of security and emergency services. Sweeney previously served seven years as the captain of the Fenway district. He replaces retiring security director Colm Lydon.
Boston Red Sox Opening Day at Fenway Park
The Red Sox returned to Boston for the first game of the season at Fenway Park. Amid red, white, and green, fans flocked to celebrate the return of baseball.
Tim Healey can be reached at timothy.healey@globe.com. Follow him @timbhealey.