Injured Red Sox Southpaw Impresses In Latest Rehab Start

Injured Red Sox Southpaw Impresses In Latest Rehab Start originally appeared on NESN.
Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Help is on the way for the Boston Red Sox. Problem is, it’s help for the pitching staff when it’s the offense which really needs a boost.

Left-hander Patrick Sandoval made third rehab start on Wednesday night, starting for the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs. He threw three innings and didn’t allow a hit until the top of the fourth when he gave up a solo home run, after which Sandoval’s day was done. He threw 44 pitches, 27 for strikes, while on his way to striking out four and walking one in the 5-4, 10-inning loss to the Somerset Patriots.

Masslive.com’s Christopher Smith reports all four strikeouts were swinging strikeouts as the 29-year-old southpaw works his way back from Tommy John surgery. Sandoval hasn’t stepped on a big-league mound since he played for the Los Angeles Angels in 2024. 

Boston signed Sandoval to a two-year, $18.25 million contract in December of 2024.

He had hoped to make his Boston debut this spring but suffered a setback in April during a rehab start with Triple-A Worcester when he experienced left bicep tightness.

The Red Sox would like Sandoval to eventually regain the form he flashed with the Angels. He posted a career-best 2.91 ERA in 2022, throwing a career-high 148.2 innings.

But it was all downhill from there. Sandoval had a career-worst 13 losses in 2023 and a bloated 5.08 ERA in 2024 before being shut down with an elbow injury.

In six MLB seasons, Sandoval is 19-45 with a 4.01 ERA in 107 games (100 starts).

More MLB: Red Sox’s Chad Tracy Shoots Down ‘Radical’ Change Despite Offensive Woes