Red Sox left-hander throws for the first time following Tommy John surgery last spring
The Red Sox lost left-hander pitcher Chris Murphy during spring training after he underwent Tommy John surgery.
With the offseason underway, Murphy has begun to make progress to get back on the mound; the southpaw has started throwing last week and has played catch a few times, according to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo.
Murphy was a strong contributor out of the gate following his promotion to the Sox during the 2023 season. Mainly pitching out of a relief bulk innings role, he posted a 1.59 ERA in 28 1/3 innings over his first nine appearances. The wheels came off a little bit in August, struggling in two separate outings where he allowed six earned runs.
In total, Murphy finished the season with a 4.91 ERA in 47 2/3 innings. While pitching for the WooSox, he struggled, posting a 6.32 ERA in 52 2/3 innings of work. It wasn’t until he was moved to the Worcester bullpen that he started to flash on the mound. Murphy struggled with his command and got behind in counts at the beginning of the Triple-A season.
Boston has a handful of pitchers that are working their way back from various arm surgeries. Murphy, Lucas Giolito, Garrett Whitlock, Michael Fulmer, Liam Hendriks, and Isaiah Campbell are all viable options to fill out the pitching staff at some point in 2025.
Despite the return of pitchers from their injuries, the Red Sox will need to bolster their rotation and bullpen. Murphy is a much-needed left-hander for Alex Cora’s bullpen, but relying on him, Cam Booser, Brennan Bernardino, and other in-house candidates is not enough to navigate a full 162-game season.
