Baseball season is one of the longest grinds in American sports. Nine months and 162 games, or more when clubs make the playoffs, can do real damage to a roster.
The Boston Red Sox of recent years know the injury bug well. An oft-injured starting rotation and other maladies have plagued Boston, keeping high-quality talent out of games.
But injuries are part of the game — an unfortunate one. This spring, the Red Sox lineup is already dealing with some absences and stints on the injured list. And as the season goes on, there are bound to be more.
BoSox Injection keeps track of Red Sox injuries and updates this page with news and timelines for players' returns.
"I haven't dealt with a serious injury in a very long time. So, definitely sucks a lot."
— NESN (@NESN) March 5, 2024
Lucas Giolito on his injury | #RedSox pic.twitter.com/ZlqUgy17WP
Red Sox 2024 Injury Tracker: Lucas Giolito likely out long-term with elbow injury
Day-to-day
Chris Martin
Chris Martin has been dealing with right groin tightness and has been classified as day-to-day as a precautionary measure. The injury is not considered serious and Martin has the potential to be ready by Opening Day.
Kenley Jansen
The Red Sox 2023 All-Star closer Kenley Jansen has been battling lat soreness from the beginning of spring training. Rumors have circulated that the injury has been holding up or killing any potential trades for the veteran.
Jansen has been throwing on flat ground for a few weeks. He's been taking his program slowly to monitor the injury so it does not worsen. There is no clear timeline for his return to game action. On March 6, he was upgraded from "out" to "day-to-day," and he threw his first live batting practice of spring training on the same day.
Bryan Mata
Red Sox right-handed pitcher Bryan Mata has been listed as day-to-day with a pulled hamstring. There is no clear timeline for his return.
The prospect was projected to arrive in Boston sometime this season, but this delay in his training may have repercussions on his potential to play for the Sox this year. His progress has already been repeatedly derailed by injuries — he missed the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2021 campaign while he was recovering from Tommy John surgery. He only made nine appearances for the Woo Sox last season.
The 24-year-old is out of minor-league options and if he does not make the major league roster this season he'll be subjected to waivers.
Out
Lucas Giolito
Lucas Giolito told the team that he experienced some discomfort in his elbow following his March 1 start against the Minnesota Twins. Preliminary imaging of the pitcher's right arm showed what is likely a partial UCL tear and flexor strain, which may require Tommy John surgery to fix.
There has been no official update from the team regarding Giolito's condition or a timeline for his return to team activities, but the situation is not looking good for the starter. If he requires Tommy John surgery, his 2024 season and likely some of the 2025 slate will be lost. He will be getting a second opinion on his initial scans on March 11. An update on his timeline is likely to follow.
Vaughn Grissom
Vaughn Grissom was initially categorized as day-to-day with a hamstring injury. He was supposed to return to action and participate in spring training games starting March 3, but a recent setback has delayed his training even further.
Grissom has been downgraded to out due to a groin strain and, according to manager Alex Cora, his potential to start on Opening Day is in question. Grissom strained his groin while participating in fielding drills.
Grissom was taking his training slow while he was nursing hamstring strains. Boston is not sure when Grissom was injured, but the injury wasn't regarded as serious. Now, he could be out until after Opening Day on March 28.
Zach Kelly
Zach Kelly has been sidelined for a few days with an oblique issue. He began playing catch again on Monday, March 11.
Liam Hendriks
Boston signed Liam Hendriks at the start of spring training knowing that he would have to spend quite a while away from the action.
Hendriks has been sidelined since the end of last season after he underwent Tommy John surgery. Before his elbow issues, the Australia native only made five appearances for the White Sox after his return from beating cancer.
Hendriks is expected to be able to pitch late in the 2024 season. He hopes to return around the trade deadline, but his official timeline is not yet clear.
Returned to play
Trevor Story
Trevor Story was temporarily sidelined with neck stiffness. His day-to-day status was merely a precaution and he has returned to the lineup to face the Cardinals on March 12.
Tyler O'Neill
Tyler O'Neill did not travel with the club to the Dominican Republic series March 9-10, as he was dealing with calf tightness. O'Neill returned to the lineup to face the Cardinals on March 12.
Jarren Duran
Jarren Duran returned to the Red Sox lineup after being sidelined for one game due to ankle tightness. He was pulled from the Sox's March 5 action against the Rays after showing some discomfort on the same foot he had surgery to repair turf toe he sustained late in the 2023 season. Luckily, his toe and ankle are both uninjured now.
Triston Casas
Triston Casas played his first spring training game on March 2 after being sidelined with the flu. He struck out twice batting fourth in the Sox's big-league lineup.
Casas has been one of the Red Sox's stars of the offseason and he's rumored to be in great shape for the coming slate. Opening Day is just a few weeks away, but Casas has plenty of time to find himself before games start to count.
Connor Wong
Connor Wong has appeared in three spring training games for the Sox, but in the role of designated hitter. Boston's likely starting catcher has been dealing with elbow soreness which has delayed his catching program.
Wong made his 2024 catching debut in the Sox's March 3 game against the Nationals.