Boston Red Sox reliever Justin Slaten resumed his recovery with a rehabilitation outing on Tuesday, marking his first pitching appearance since May 28. Slaten had been sidelined following a shoulder injury that eventually required surgery to address a related neck problem.
Strong Performance in Triple-A, Yet Return Timeline Remains Unclear
During his rehab outing with Triple-A Worcester, Slaten faced three batters over one inning and struck out all three, throwing a total of 15 pitches. Despite this dominant showing, the Red Sox appear to be cautious, likely planning for at least one more rehab appearance before bringing him back to the major league bullpen.
Pitch Velocity Encouraging, But Breaking Balls Show Slight Decline
Slaten’s fastball velocity reached a peak of 97.6 mph and averaged 96.3 mph, which, although just below his season average, did not raise immediate concerns among Red Sox staff. However, his breaking pitches showed some diminished effectiveness: the curveball had about four less inches of drop on average, while the sweeper lost approximately two inches of horizontal movement. These differences might stem from variations in the baseball used at the Triple-A level, but they remain points for close evaluation going forward.
Implications for Red Sox Bullpen Depth and Future Strategy
The Red Sox bullpen has struggled with inconsistency lately, prompting the team to seek dependable arms. Should Slaten successfully return, he would immediately improve the bullpen’s depth, likely pushing other relievers down the pecking order. This addition would grant manager Alex Cora valuable flexibility in late-game situations, addressing a pressing need for reliable pitching options in critical innings.