Red Sox: Where current injury woes rank in value and significance

Carson Smith’s continued effect on the Red Sox bullpen

I’ve had to remind myself a couple times this spring that Carson Smith is still a member of the Red Sox. Relievers in baseball are abundant and names get lost in the flow.

After getting Smith and Roenis Elias for the mediocre Wade Miley prior to last season, the “hype” surrounding the reliever was short lived as an elbow injury followed by a brief return following rehabilitation leading up to Tommy John surgery has had spiraling effects even with the pitcher sidelined since early 2016.

The lack of Smith’s presence in the bullpen will have further ramifications, this time due to another Red Sox right-handed reliever injury.

With Tyler Thornburg being shut down because of a shoulder impingement, the Red Sox are going to be carrying three left-handed relievers out of the bullpen, as both Robby Scott and Fernando Abad will make the opening day roster to go along with bullpen lock Robbie Ross Jr.

Now, Smith’s absence is not responsible for Thornburg’s shoulder not responding to the Red Sox throwing program, but the Red Sox will have to turn to Joe Kelly as the setup man until Thornburg can get back.

Smith himself as recently as yesterday has felt the lingering effects of the injury, as per Tim Britton of ProJo, Smith felt some tightness following his first bullpen session post-Tommy John last week.

For Smith, it appears that June is still the target date for the return of right-hander, thought that is understandably in flux at the moment with the delicacy of rehabilitation during the recovery process of such a major surgery.

"“I know it’s a long process, and June is the target date,” Smith said. “It could be pushed back at some point, just because I’ve seen other guys go through the process, and they get to this point and there are things and obstacles they have to overcome when they start to manipulate the ball a little more. We’ll see how it goes, but I’m very happy with June as a target.”"