Red Sox reliever acquired from Royals in 2022 pitches in game action for first time since Tommy John surgery
Red Sox right-handed reliever Wyatt Mills pitched off the mound in live game action for the first time since 2023 in Friday afternoon’s exhibition against Northeastern University at JetBlue Park.
Mills was effective against Northeastern, tossing one inning while striking out one and earning a hold in the Red Sox' 5-2 win.
The righty missed the last two years after undergoing Tommy John surgery in July 2023.
Alex Cora emphasized that Mills needs to remain healthy and highlighted his potential versatility out of the bullpen.
“(He) needs to throw strikes,” Cora said about Mills before the game against Northeastern. “That’s the most important thing. Keep him healthy, of course. But as far as the angle, it’s different. It provides versatility to the pitching staff."
The 30-year-old has drawn comparisons to former Red Sox reliever John Schreiber. Both hurlers throw from a sidearm angle and offer the same pitch mix, a four-seam fastball, slider, and sinker. Boston is keeping their fingers crossed Mills can remain healthy and become Schreiber 2.0 this coming season.
Mills looked good in his last bullpen session this week, his final tune-up before his appearance in the exhibition game from JetBlue Park.
“His last one was a good one—his last live BP," Cora said. “He threw a lot of strikes. When he does that, there’s a lot of swings and misses.”
Boston has a lot of competition for spots on the 26-man roster, and Mills faces an uphill battle in winning a bullpen spot. He figures to start the year from Triple-A Worcester, offering the Sox MLB-ready depth if someone is hurt at some point this season.
