FORT MYERS, Fla. – It had been 602 days since Patrick Sandoval confronted hitters.
The left-hander ended that streak of frustration Friday when he took the mound at JetBlue Park and threw his first stay batting follow since Tommy John surgical procedure.
“It’s been endlessly,” he mentioned.
The Crimson Sox signed the southpaw, now 29, to a backloaded two-year, $18.25 million contract fourteen months in the past with the expectation that he would miss at the least a good portion of the primary yr. Sandoval thought he’d be capable to contribute within the second half of ‘25, and obtained “fairly shut” to being able to face stay hitters earlier than arm fatigue shut him down.
“I believe it was the suitable transfer,” Sandoval mentioned, although he admitted, “This rehab course of has humbled me lots.”
He started ramping up once more in November and reported to the Crimson Sox spring coaching advanced a month in the past. By then he had already thrown a number of bullpens.
The pitching workers is totally different this preseason, deeper and extra skilled than final yr. Lefties Garrett Crochet and Ranger Suarez and righties Sonny Grey and Brayan Bello are anticipated to fill four-fifths of the beginning rotation. Sandoval is competing with a number of pitchers for the ultimate spot, and he’s absolutely conscious that he might find yourself within the bullpen as a substitute.
I wouldn’t say I’ve any set function right here, and I’m glad to compete for a job, that’s what we’re right here for,” Sandoval mentioned. “Particularly with the fellows we introduced in and the room we’ve. It’s one of the best workers within the league, and I’m honored to be a part of it and honored to compete for a spot.”
“I’m a Crimson Sox, so I’ll do no matter they need me to do,” he continued, although he added that reduction work “would positively be an adjustment.”
For now Sandoval is relishing Friday’s milestone and inquisitive about how he’ll really feel the following day.
“All offseason I needed to reply questions from family and friends, ‘Are you going to be wholesome? Are you going to be again?’” Sandoval mentioned. “I don’t know. I gained’t know till I face a batter, after which I gained’t know ‘til the following day. … I’d be so glad to get up sore, actually. It might be good to really feel that once more.”
Sandoval was grateful, too, to the teammates who got here to look at him take this step ahead.
“I actually didn’t count on that many guys to be there to look at that,” Sandoval mentioned, “and the reception I obtained afterwards, it was cool. It was actually cool.”
It’s one thing of an annual spring coaching custom for Alex Cora to level out an under-the-radar participant or two who’s impressing or intriguing him. Requested to take action Friday, the Crimson Sox supervisor started to say it was too early in camp. The primary full-squad exercise isn’t till Monday, in spite of everything.
However then he modified his thoughts.
“What Sandoval did right this moment, that’s spectacular. That’s good to see,” Cora mentioned. “For him to be in that spot, that caught my consideration.”
