Red Sox's James Paxton: Tracking toward late-April return
Rotowire
Paxton (hamstring) tentatively appears to be on track to return from the 15-day injured list in late April, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.
One of three Red Sox starting pitchers who opened the season on the IL, Paxton is without a firm target date for his return, but Abraham notes that the veteran southpaw is behind both Garrett Whitlock (hip) and Brayan Bello (forearm) in his rehab program. Of the trio, Whitlock appears closest to a return, as he'll be pitching Friday for Triple-A Worcester in the first of what's expected to be two rehab starts for the affiliate before he likely comes off the IL as early as April 11. Meanwhile, Abraham notes that Bello is about a week behind Whitlock, while Paxton is about 7-to-10 days behind Bello. Paxton is expected to begin a minor-league rehab assignment of his own Monday but looks as though he'll need at least three starts to get fully stretched out.
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Red Sox's James Paxton: Officially placed on injured list
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The Red Sox placed Paxton (hamstring) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.
Paxton has been pain-free for a while but will get a late start to the season. The veteran left-hander is slated to begin a rehab assignment Monday and is on track for a mid-April return.
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Red Sox's James Paxton: Ready for rehab assignment
Rotowire
Paxton (hamstring) is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment Monday with Triple-A Worcester or the rookie-level Florida Complex League club, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.
The Red Sox would ideally have Paxton face higher-level competition at Triple-A as he builds back up from the right hamstring strain that will keep him on the injured list to begin the season, but colder weather in the Northeast could prompt the team to have him make his first rehab outing in Florida. Paxton threw two simulated innings Wednesday and was showcasing a fastball that sat around 94-to-96 miles per hour, so his arm appears to be in good condition after he didn't pitch in the majors in 2022 while recovering from Tommy John surgery and then a lat strain suffered last August in a rehab start. The veteran southpaw will likely need to build up to around five innings over the course of 2-to-3 starts in the minors before he's considered an option for the big-league rotation.
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Red Sox's James Paxton: Scheduled to pitch on back fields
Rotowire
Paxton (hamstring) will pitch two innings in a backfield game Wednesday, Chad Jennings of The Athletic reports.
The 34-year-old lefty made five starts in 2020, one in 2021 and none in 2022, with arm troubles (including Tommy John surgery) the primary culprit. He looked healthy at the start of camp but promptly strained his hamstring in his first spring start. He's working his way back again but won't be available for a few more weeks. Paxton's expected to ramp up one inning at a time, so he still likely has four or five outings to go before the Red Sox activate him. If that pattern holds, he won't be make his season debut until the second half of April at the earliest.
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Red Sox's James Paxton: Slated for live BP
Rotowire
Paxton (hamstring) will throw live batting practice Saturday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.
This represents a significant step forward for Paxton, who, as Abraham notes, essentially had to start all over again with his throwing program after suffering a hamstring strain earlier this month. Paxton will not be ready for Opening Day and the lefty may end up needing a minor-league start or two to prepare for his return. Tanner Houck is expected to fill a rotation spot in the meantime.
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Red Sox's James Paxton: Throws bullpen session
Rotowire
Paxton (hamstring) threw a bullpen session Tuesday, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.
Paxton returned to the mound with a bullpen session Saturday and it's a good sign that he was ready for another one three days later. The left-hander will not be ready for Opening Day due to a right hamstring strain, but he's trending toward a return sometime in April if he continues to progress.
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Red Sox's James Paxton: Another bullpen coming soon
Rotowire
Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters that Paxton (hamstring) will throw another bullpen in the next three-to-four days, Mike Monaco of ESPN reports.
Cora said that everything went well Saturday with Paxton's bullpen session, and it's a positive sign that he'll be back on the mound for another round shortly after. The left-hander is all but a lock to open the season on the injured list, but it does appear that Paxton will make starts for Boston in April as long as there's no setback.
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Red Sox's James Paxton: Throws 25 pitches off mound
Rotowire
Paxton (hamstring) threw 25 pitches off the mound Saturday in a bullpen session, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
Paxton told Browne after the session that he felt good, and wasn't thinking about his hamstring at all. It's a positive sign for the southpaw, who has not been able to pitch this spring while recovering from a right hamstring strain. The next step for Paxton is to face live hitting, and then hopefully the 34-year-old will get a chance to pitch in a Grapefruit League game before the exhibition season ends. It's still very likely Paxton will open the season on the injured list.
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Red Sox's James Paxton: Set for bullpen session
Rotowire
Paxton (hamstring) will throw a bullpen session Saturday, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.
This is his first such session since he suffered a hamstring injury March 3. Paxton won't be ready for Opening Day.
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Red Sox's James Paxton: Tests coming Friday
Rotowire
Paxton will undergo testing on his injured hamstring Friday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
If he's cleared to return after Friday's exam, Paxton will begin throwing bullpen sessions. He's one of three possible rotation members expected to open the season on the injured list. Garrett Whitlock (hip) made his spring debut Wednesday and Brayan Bello (forearm) is expected to follow shortly.
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Red Sox's James Paxton: Does dry throwing from mound
Rotowire
Paxton (hamstring) played long toss and did some dry throwing from a mound Tuesday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
More specifically, Paxton went through his throwing motion but didn't actually throw a ball when he stepped on the mound. Paxton is progressing slowly but surely from a right hamstring strain, but it's not clear when he might be ready to face hitters or pitch in a game. He's expected to open the season on the injured list.
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Red Sox's James Paxton: No mound work yet
Rotowire
Paxton (hamstring) played catch off flat ground Monday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.
Though Paxton wasn't able to resume mound last week like the Red Sox had initially planned, the veteran southpaw hasn't experienced any apparent setbacks in his recovery from a right hamstring strain and should be able to throw a bullpen session in the coming days. Paxton looks as though he's still roughly on pace to resume facing hitters before the end of spring training, but because he won't have enough time to get fully ramped up to handle a starter's workload, he's a virtual lock to open the season on the injured list.
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Red Sox's James Paxton: Aims for mound work this week
Rotowire
Manager Alex Cora said Wednesday that Paxton (hamstring) hopes to resume throwing off a mound by the end of this week, Mike Monaco of ESPN reports.
Paxton played catch Wednesday without issue and could be ready to test things out from a mound in a few days. The left-hander has been trending in the right direction since suffering a Grade 1 right hamstring strain last Friday, although he's not expected to be ready in time for Opening Day.
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Red Sox's James Paxton: Should start throwing soon
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Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Paxton (hamstring) could play catch Wednesday, Mac Cerullo of The North Andover Eagle-Tribune reports. "Obviously we're not rushing, but if he's able to get on the mound by the end of the week we're in a better spot than what we thought a couple days ago," Cora said.
Cora noted that the left-hander is moving well and overall is trending in the right direction after suffering a Grade 1 right hamstring strain in his most recent spring start Friday. Paxton isn't expected to be ready for Opening Day, but the 34-year-old could make be making starts for Boston by the middle of April.
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Red Sox's James Paxton: Does some throwing from knees
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Paxton (hamstring) did some throwing from his knees Sunday, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
Paxton's Grade 1 right hamstring strain is keeping him from normal workouts, but he's doing his best to keep his arm in shape in the meantime. The left-hander is not expected to be ready in time for Opening Day. Paxton, of course, has had a terrible time staying healthy, having made just six major-league starts and one rehab start over the last three years due to injury.
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Red Sox's James Paxton: Unlikely for Opening Day
Rotowire
Paxton has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 hamstring strain and will be shut down from throwing, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.
The veteran southpaw left his start Friday with discomfort. While Grade 1 is the least severe classification of strain, it will likely delay Paxton's start to the season. With Brayan Bello (forearm) and Garrett Whitlock (hip) also unlikely for Opening Day, the Red Sox may need to roll with Tanner Houck and/or Josh Winckowski in the starting rotation. Kutter Crawford, projected as a reliever, is being stretched out this spring and could serve as starting depth as well.
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Red Sox's James Paxton: Leaves start with hamstring issue
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Paxton is being evaluated for right hamstring discomfort, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Paxton made an early exit from his Grapefruit League debut Friday afternoon against the Twins after feeling a grab in his right hamstring. "We don't really know yet," he said afterward when questioned about the potential severity of the injury. The veteran southpaw continues to have awful luck on the health front, though at least this isn't an issue with his throwing arm.
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Red Sox's James Paxton: Exits with leg injury
Rotowire
Paxton left Friday's spring training game against Minnesota in the second inning with an apparent leg injury, source reports.
The injury doesn't seem to be very serious, and he was likely removed from the game as a precaution. Paxton missed all of last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, the latest setback in an injury-plagued career, but Boston is still expecting the 34-year-old to be part of its Opening Day rotation.
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Red Sox's James Paxton: Draws praise from manager
Rotowire
Paxton (lat) was singled out by Red Sox manager Alex Cora on Tuesday as someone who has impressed so far in camp, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.
Paxton hasn't made an appearance yet this spring but, at least according to his skipper, he has looked good in throwing sessions. The veteran left-hander has made just six major-league starts and one rehab start over the last three years because of various injuries, with the most recent one being a lat strain. He'll obviously remain a major health question mark in 2023, but it's good to hear positives about Paxton coming out of Red Sox camp.
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Red Sox's James Paxton: Starting Friday
Rotowire
Paxton (lat) will start Friday's spring training game against the Twins, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
Paxton is reportedly healthy heading into camp, and he'll get the chance to prove it next week. He's made a grand total of seven starts over the last three seasons while dealing with multiple injuries, including Tommy John surgery and most recently a lat strain. The veteran lefty owns a strong 3.59 career ERA, but between his long layoff and his age (34), it's hard to have confidence that he'll get back to anything close to peak form.
