Steven Wright
Steven Wright‘s dominant first half of 2016 is becoming increasingly difficult to recall. However, he was possibly the best pitcher on the staff for a large portion of 2016. The knuckleballer was even selected as an All-Star over Rick Porcello, who went on to win the Cy Young Award that year.
After a few rough starts, Wright ended up spending most of 2017 recovering from knee surgery. Wright’s health will add uncertainty to how well equipped he is for 2018. However, his only full season in Boston suggests he will be a huge factor.
Last Two Years
2016: 13 W | 6 L | 3.33 ERA | 156.2 IP | 127 SO | 134 ERA+ | 3.77 FIP | 2.7 WAR
2017:1 W | 3 L | 8.25 ERA | 24 IP | 13 SO | 56 ERA+ | 7.82 FIP | -0.5 WAR
2018 Outlook
During the off-season, Wright faced issues much more concerning than his knee injury. On December 8th, 2017, Wright was arrested on domestic assault charges. The case was retired two weeks later.
For 2018, Wright will have to put these issues in the past, and focus on making a return to the rotation. Wright definitely enters Spring Training with questions to answer, but look for him to get back on track throughout the season. Expect him to be focused in camp, with increased concern on staying healthy and returning to comfort on the mound.