The Boston Red Sox reported to spring training with very few surprise injuries, so the players they expected to arrive to camp hurt have taken their time recovering.
Kutter Crawford and Patrick Sandoval may eventually factor into Boston's rotation plans, but they'll open the season on the injured list as they continue recovering from their respective injuries (per Chris Cotillo of MassLive). Both pitchers missed the entire 2025 season, despite early beliefs that they may be able to play in the second half, due to injury setbacks.
The Red Sox have so much major league-ready pitching depth that they could get away with slow-playing Crawford and Sandoval. The pitchers have been throwing live batting practice sessions in spring and recently appeared in minor league games on the backfields to ramp up for their eventual returns — in Sandoval's case, his Red Sox debut.
Boston has some options with the two pitchers' recovery. Cotillo believes that Crawford and Sandoval are a week or two away from either being assigned to a minor league affiliate to carry out rehab assignments. The Red Sox could use them in the bullpen until they need an extra starter, but the team's true plans for the pitchers hasn't been announced.
As Kutter Crawford, Patrick Sandoval and Triston Casas progress through recovery, Red Sox still haven't announced rehab assignment plans
Triston Casas is also approaching a pivotal point in his recovery from a ruptured patellar tendon. Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reported on March 18 that Casas had reached the 10.5 month-mark in a 12-14 month recovery process (subscription required). He hadn't started running the bases yet, but much has changed since then.
According to Cotillo, Casas has begun running the bases and partaking in sliding drills. His bat has been in working order for much of spring, but he's previously come off the bases after getting a hit.
Casas' fit on the Red Sox's roster is still a mystery. He'll need weeks of rehab with a minor league affiliate before returning to the big leagues, but with Willson Contreras as the primary first baseman the DH spot very much occupied, Casas may have to wait for an injury to get back into action. Casas has minor league options on his contract, so the Sox could keep him in the lower levels until they're ready for him.