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Red Sox pitcher Patrick Sandoval doesn’t seem to be a big fan of manager Alex Cora’s decision regarding his injury rehab

The Boston Red Sox are entering the 2026 campaign with a roster that is stocked full of talent. That has made life very difficult for manager Alex Cora throughout Spring Training, as he has to make tough decisions at several spots. Perhaps the most crowded area on the team’s roster is its starting rotation, as a handful of guys are competing for one spot.

Right now, Boston has its top four starters locked in (Garrett Crochet, Ranger Suarez, Sonny Gray, and Brayan Bello). The No. 5 spot is very much up for grabs, but at least four or five different guys are competing for it. One of those guys is veteran left-hander Patrick Sandoval, but he recently received a tough update on his injury rehab process that all but guarantees he won’t be ready for the start of the season.

Patrick Sandoval Not a Fan of Alex Cora’s Latest Decision

Sandoval spent the first six seasons of his major league career with the Los Angeles Angels, where he struggled to find any sort of consistency on the mound. Sandoval’s best season came in 2022, when he posted a 2.91 ERA with 151 strikeouts over 27 starts, but his ERA ballooned to 4.11 in 2023. In 2024, things got even worse, as Sandoval posted a 5.08 ERA in 16 starts before undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery.

That surgery took place in June 2024, and Sandoval hasn’t pitched in the majors since then. After signing a two-year, $18.25 million contract with the Red Sox in free agency last offseason, Sandoval missed the entire campaign, with the hope being he’d be ready to go for the start of 2026. However, it doesn’t seem like that will happen either.

While Sandoval is progressing well, the Sox want to play things safe with him, given how long it’s been since he last pitched in the majors. According to Cora, that will result in Sandoval participating in a “deload” week, in an effort to ensure he isn’t overusing his arm. While he will oblige by that plan, it doesn’t sound like the 29-year-old southpaw is a big fan of the decision.

“I’ve been going pretty hard out here since the beginning of January,” Sandoval said, per Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. “I’m not the biggest fan of this deload, but it’s what they prescribe and what they think will be good for me in the long run. I’ve trusted them so far, so I’m going to keep trusting them.”

Patrick Sandoval is a Wild Card in the Red Sox’s Rotation Plans

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In a crowded starting rotation picture, Sandoval might be the biggest wild card of the bunch for Boston. Not only has he not pitched since 2024, but even when he was healthy, his performance varied greatly. The Red Sox have a history of getting the most out of their pitchers, but nobody really knows what he’s capable of right now.

The Sox can slow play Sandoval’s return, but it sounds like he’s chomping at the bit to get back on the mound. A rehab assignment likely awaits Sandoval to begin the year, but even when he finishes that, it remains to be seen where he fits into Cora’s pitching plan. That’s a concern for another day, as right now, all Sandoval is focused on is getting himself healthy as quickly as possible.

Owen Crisafulli Owen Crisafulli is a Breaking News Writer at Heavy. In addition to writing for Heavy, Owen works as a Content Producer for More Views Media. His work has also appeared on ClutchPoints, The Sporting News, Athlon Sports, Basketball Network, and FanSided, where he shared his insights on a variety of sports topics primarily surrounding the NFL, NBA, and MLB. More about Owen Crisafulli