Red Sox reliever dealing with groin issue after throwing 2-pitch bullpen
Red Sox high-leverage reliever Chris Martin stayed back at the training complex in Fort Myers on Satuday in his efforts to ramp up for the start of the season. His teammates are in the Dominican Republic for a two-game series against the Rays.
After throwing just two pitches on Saturday, Martin suffered a groin injury. The team is calling the issue minor and he was scratched from his season for precautionary reasons, per The Boston Globe’s Julian McWilliams.
According to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo, Martin is dealing with right groin tightness.
Martin has not yet pitched in a spring training game for the Red Sox With Opening Day just three weeks away, Alex Cora has seen his young relievers get most of the work in games. All-Star closer Kenley Jansen has not yet appeared in a game this spring.
The 37-year-old reliever was one of the Red Sox best pitchers in 2023. He finished with a 1.05 ERA (51 ⅓ innings, six earned runs) in 55 relief outings. The righty led all major league pitchers who threw a minimum of 30 innings. Martin also received one Cy Young vote and finished in 12th place.
The Red Sox have been dealing with the injury bug of late losing Lucas Giolito potentially for the season with an elbow injury. Vaughn Grissom is questionable for Opening Day with a groin issue and Bryan Mata has been sidelined with a hamstring problem.
