{"id":40709,"date":"2025-03-12T11:25:11","date_gmt":"2025-03-12T11:25:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=40709"},"modified":"2025-03-12T11:25:11","modified_gmt":"2025-03-12T11:25:11","slug":"red-sox-lucas-giolito-waited-year-to-return-from-injury-hurt-on-1st-pitch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=40709","title":{"rendered":"Red Sox\u2019 Lucas Giolito waited year to return from injury, hurt on 1st pitch"},"content":{"rendered":"
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FORT MYERS, Fla. \u2014 Last March, Lucas Giolito never even made it to Opening Day.<\/p>\n

Just months after signing with the Red Sox as a free agent, he tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, resulting in an internal brace procedure which cost him all of the 2024 season.<\/p>\n

Healthy again, Giolito was excited to return to the mound Tuesday for his first outing of the 2025. But his body had other ideas.<\/p>\n

Upon throwing his very first pitch of the game to Philadelphia Phillies’ second baseman Bryson Stott, Giolito immediately felt some tightness in his left hamstring.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew it wasn\u2019t bad,\u201d he said, \u201cso I just adjusted my front leg mechanics a little bit, just to compete and get through the inning. Wasn\u2019t pretty obviously (he was charged with two runs on one hit and two walks), but it felt good to be back out there competing. We\u2019ll assess and do whatever (the training staff) says and it shouldn\u2019t be bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

After the game, an 18-8 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies, Alex Cora said Giolito will undergo an MRI Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Cora added that he wished Giolito had said something at the time, but understood the circumstances.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s how (players) are, man. They want to compete,\u201d said Cora. \u201cThey feel like it\u2019s something they can work through. Hopefully, it\u2019s nothing major and he can make his next start.\u201d<\/p>\n

Giolito said he\u2019s experienced strained hamstrings before and this, comparatively speaking, seems to be of minimum concern.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve pulled my hamstring in my career a few times,\u201d said Giolito, \u201cand it feels very minor. That\u2019s what (the training staff) is saying based on the initial testing. It\u2019s just an annoying little setback, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked if he felt cursed after missing a year and enduring a setback, however minor, after one pitch, but dismissed that line of thinking.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t have that attitude,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is what it is. Things happen, injuries happen. I wouldn\u2019t even categorize this as an injury, really, at this point. It just felt like it got tight on me.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll do the protocol, get it looked at and it shouldn\u2019t be too bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

Giolito wasn\u2019t sure if the strain would preclude him from making his next scheduled outing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sure at this point,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a little too early to tell.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added that he didn\u2019t feel any tightness in the bullpen, warming up before the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s frustrating,\u201d conceded Giolito. \u201cI\u2019d like everything to be just sunshine and rainbows and feeling great. But that\u2019s not the way baseball works or the way life works sometimes. The fortunate thing is that the strength\u2019s really good. I already know (in my head) that it\u2019s nothing bad. It\u2019s just a little thing to have to work through.\u201d<\/p>\n

Because Giolito altered his delivery some, it was hard for to judge the quality of his stuff in his inning of work.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously, it was erratic,\u201d he said of the outing. \u201cIt was hard to throw strikes that way, especially with breaking balls. It felt good to be competing. It wasn\u2019t the prettiest inning, but I look forward to better ones ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n

If there\u2019s any consolation, his surgically-repaired elbow held up well.<\/p>\n

\u201cElbow feels great. Shoulder and elbow (are in a) really good spot,\u201d he said. \u201cI think the work we\u2019ve been putting in the last year has paid off in that aspect. I feel really strong.\u201d<\/p>\n

Told that his fastball sat mostly at 93 mph, Giolito shrugged.<\/p>\n

\u201cEh, that\u2019s fine. That\u2019s where I like to pitch at generally, Giolito said. \u201dSo I probably have a little more (in the tank) if I can use my left leg.”<\/p>\n