Red Sox spring training notebook: Sean Newcomb strong start, Connor Wong ‘shooting for weekend’ to play, Bello inching closer, pitchers on tap

Image courtesy of The Boston Globe

Red Sox left-handed pitcher Sean Newcomb is one of many veterans in camp with a non-roster invite trying to make the Opening Day roster.

The southpaw looked good in his spring debut on Tuesday afternoon, tossing two scoreless frames against the Braves. Newcomb allowed just one hit with no walks and three strikeouts.

“It was cool. It’s been a long time coming,” Newcomb said to reporters following the game. “Something I’ve dreamt about.”

The Red Sox want Newcomb to be a multi-innings reliever out of the bullpen, part of the reason why he opened the game.

Newcomb said that he located his fastball and was aggressive in the strike zone.

“It was a good start,” he said. “I was able to continue with a lot of the stuff I’ve been working on.”

Connor Wong still out of action

Red Sox catcher Connor Wong has not yet appeared in a Grapefruit League game but is inching closer to debuting this weekend.

Wong has been dealing with a sore shoulder early on in camp.

“We’re shooting for the weekend,” Red Sox skipper Alex Cora said. “He’s going to get live at-bats tomorrow and the next day. No throwing today.”

Cora thinks Brayan Bello will be ready for Opening Day

Brayan Bello was shut down once camp got underway after dealing with shoulder soreness. The righty will throw another bullpen session on Friday, Cora said to reporters.

The righty took a strength test on Feb. 23 and received good results. He is also now throwing from 120 feet, and the Red Sox are planning for him to throw his first bullpen session on Feb. 28.

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Positive Yoshida update

Masataka Yoshida has been cleared to hit against live batting practice pitching.

“He got the green light to face live BP,” Cora said.

Yoshida began to throw to 45 feet this week, and there’s a chance he could start to DH soon.

Pitchers on tap the next couple of days

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Quinn Priester will make his second start of the spring on Thursday when the Sox go on the road to play the Tigers. The righty went two innings, giving up two hits, surrendering one run, and allowing one walk with no strikeouts in his spring debut last Saturday against the Rays.

Boston is expected to also feature right-handed pitchers Josh Winckowski, Michael Fulmer, Isaiah Campbell, and Jacob Webb versus the Tigers.

Garrett Crochet will make his second start on Friday afternoon when the Sox play the Phillies in Clearwater, Florida. The game will not be televised and can be heard on WEEI 850 AM.

Walker Buehler is tentatively scheduled to start on Sunday when the Mets come to JetBlue Park.

Lucas Giolito is still on track for the Opening Day roster. The veteran righty threw a live batting practice on Tuesday and felt “good.”

“Next step is a two-inning live (BP),” Cora said. “I think that’s Sunday.”