Oviedo said: \u201cThis is a surprise.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, Cora said the Red Sox were \u201cpositive\u201d 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 \u201ccame in sore,\u201d so the Sox had him checked out.<\/p>\n
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An MRI \u201cshowed what it showed,\u201d Cora said.<\/p>\n
Oviedo said the discomfort is \u201cwhere the scar is\u201d from last time.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I woke up [Wednesday] morning, I couldn\u2019t bend or flex my arm,\u201d Oviedo said. \u201cThe range of motion is not there. A little bit of pain, but it feels locked.\u201d<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t clear if the Sox are concerned about damage specifically to Oviedo\u2019s ulnar collateral ligament \u2014 the Tommy John ligament \u2014 or if a second surgery might be needed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just have to be patient with it and just wait for that [doctor feedback] to happen,\u201d Cora said. \u201cI believe they\u2019re going to compare the MRIs [from now and the past] and see where we\u2019re at and then go from there.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the 28 months since his operation, Oviedo has pitched in just 10 games \u2014 nine starts with the Pirates near the end of last season, plus the relief appearance with the Red Sox this week.<\/p>\n
The Red Sox acquired Oviedo in December in a five-player trade that included outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia joining the Pirates.<\/p>\n
Whitlock on paternity leave <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Whitlock is allowed to miss up to three days. His wife, Jordan, gave birth to their second child Thursday, Cora said.<\/p>\n
\u201c[Length of absence is] his decision, and I\u2019m all for it,\u201d Cora said. \u201cShe\u2019s been by herself the whole time, and there\u2019s another little one there, so take care of them, and then get here when he gets here.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
For the 26-year-old Uberstine, the promotion was his first. He has as improbable a baseball path as you will find \u2014 barely pitched in high school, attended Southern Cal as a regular student\/non-athlete, walked on the baseball team at Northwestern as a junior \u2014 so the occasion of his arrival for the home opener was a remarkable one.<\/p>\n
\u201cPretty surreal. Pretty amazing,\u201d said Uberstine. \u201cI\u2019m really just trying to soak it all in.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Sox celebrated their 1986 team during pregame ceremonies, marking the 40th anniversary of its American League championship.<\/p>\n
Two dozen players from the \u201986 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.<\/p>\n
Marty Barrett and Bruce Hurst threw out ceremonial first pitches (caught by Connor Wong and Garrett Crochet, respectively).<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Walpole native Joe Morgan, 95, the bullpen coach in 1986 and manager from 1988-91, was on the field for the goings-on.<\/p>\n
Aroldis Chapman\u2019s 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\u2019 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.<\/p>\n
Boston Red Sox Opening Day at Fenway Park<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Tim Healey can be reached at timothy.healey@globe.com<\/a>. Follow him @timbhealey<\/a>.<\/p>\n