James Paxton on the Red Sox potentially using him out of the bullpen: ‘It’s nothing they’ve had a conversation with me about’
The Red Sox announced that James Paxton will make another rehab start for the WooSox on Friday. This is coming on the heels of his start against the Buffalo Bisons on Sunday afternoon.
Paxton looked sharp, allowing only two hits while walking two batters and striking out three over three scoreless innings.
The 34-year-old veteran threw 58 pitches and saw his fastball top out at 96.2 mph.
“I thought he looked good, he had one stint in the second inning, where he walked back-to-back guys and he was able to get out of it. He was pulling the ball a little bit to his glove side. I know he had some of that going on in his rehab appearance in Fort Myers but he cleaned it up quite a bit,” said WooSox manager Chad Tracy.
Paxton threw 58 pitches and saw his fastball top out at 96.2 mph.
“The ball was jumping out of his hand, he had late life in the zone. He got a lot of swing and misses on his fastball up. He threw some really good breaking balls. I think he was popping some 94’s and 95’s (mph). I thought he looked really good,” added Tracy.
Paxton said he is expected to throw 70-75 pitches on Friday, however that may change as the week progresses. The left-hander is focused on getting his work in and inching closer to joining the Red Sox 26-man roster.
“I feel good, I feel like I’m still shaking some rust off, dialing some things in. That’s what this process is for and I feel like I’m right where I need to be along my road right now,” said Paxton before the WooSox home game on Tuesday against the Clippers.
The Red Sox will assess where Paxton is at following the rehab start on Friday, however, he thinks that he’ll make additional rehab appearances.
“I would imagine I would have a couple of more at least while just trying to zero things in a little bit before I am ready to compete at the big league level,” said Paxton.
The Red Sox media spoke with manager Alex Cora pregame on Tuesday from St.Petersburg and asked whether Paxton will pitch out of the rotation or if he’ll see time in the bullpen.
“As of now, we’re going to stretch him out,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Tuesday, per Ian Browne of MLB.com.
When Paxton was asked whether or not he will see time in the bullpen, the southpaw seemed surprised by Cora’s comments.
“It’s nothing they’ve had a conversation with me about,” said Paxton.
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