Red Sox injuries & moves: Josh Winckowski recalled, Hendriks bullpen session, Grissom not ready
The Red Sox recalled catcher Tyler Heineman and right-handed pitchers Isaiah Campbell and Josh Winckowski from Triple-A Worcester on Monday.
Boston placed catcher Connor Wong on the paternity list and optioned lefty Cam Booser and righty Brad Keller to the WooSox.
After the Red Sox used eight relievers in a bullpen game against the Reds on Sunday, Boston needed fresh arms ahead of their series opener with the Blue Jays at Fenway Park.
Winckowski rejoins the team after he was sent down to make room for Brayan Bello, who was returning from the injured list on May 12. While with the WooSox, Winckowski was stretched out as a starter.
"The slider that I was throwing at the start of the year was almost identical to the cutter that I throw, and it really didn't offer much," Winckowski said to reporters. "Kind of throwing one a little bit slower, a little bit bigger right now, and definitely helps out the pitch mix."
With Worcester, Winckowski pitched to a 2.87 ERA with 29 strikeouts over 31 1/3 frames.
Booser was primarily used as a multi-inning reliever and posted a 3.21 ERA over 28 innings. Keller has struggled since he signed with Boston, owning a 5.40 ERA over 16 2/3 innings. Wong is eligible to be on the paternity list for 72 hours and will be back later this week.
Liam Hendriks will throw his first bullpen since undergoing Tommy John surgery later this week.
Injury updates
Bryan Mata has joined the WooSox and is expected to start on Wednesday on the road in Scranton. The 25-year-old has thrown five shutout innings over two appearances with the Portland Sea Dogs.
The Red Sox will need to make a decision by July 16 during the All-Star break on what they’ll do with Mata. His 30-day rehab window began on June 16 and will expire on July 15.
Mata has been dealing with a left hamstring strain he suffered during spring training. He was rehabbing back with the Sea Dogs in May and was shut down again due to a lat issue.
“It’s been really tough dealing with all of these weird injuries that have been happening to me,” Mata said. “All I can control is working hard like I have been. That’s something that’s out of my control. But yeah, it’s definitely tough.”
Vaughn Grissom has been on the injured list since June 1 with a right hamstring injury. Alex Cora told reporters that Grissom is doing baseball activities with the exception of sprinting at full speed.
“Right now, he's still weak with the hammy," said Cora. "We’re trying to build him up, so that’s where we’re at.”
Grissom told WEEI’s Rob Bradford that his hamstring injury was a result of his other hamstring not being fully healed and that he was “overcompensating.” The infielder is not ready for a minor league rehab assignment.
