Important Red Sox Hurler Finally Returns To Mound; What Can Boston Fans Expect?

The Boston Red Sox are starting to get healthy at the perfect time.

Opening Day is right around the corner, and the Red Sox may not be at full strength when it arrives on March 30. Boston already has dealt with a plethora of injuries to its starting pitchers but it got some good news Wednesday.

Young hurler Garrett Whitlock returned to the hill Wednesday to make his 2023 Grapefruit League debut and shined across two innings of work.

Garrett Whitlock with a nine pitch, 1-2-3 inning.

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— Chris Henrique (@ChrisHenrique) March 15, 2023

Whitlock got the ball in the sixth inning to relieve starter Corey Kluber and had a perfect inning returning the Tampa Bay Rays' side in order with just nine pitches. The 26-year-old came back out for the seventh inning and continued his dominance.

The young right-handed hurler didn't allow a hit, walked one batter, and struck out three Rays hitters across two innings pitched.

Garrett Whitlock looked sharp today in his first outing of the spring.

3 SO, 0 ER, 0 H, 1 BB

https://t.co/unIVbOoAui
— Jamie Gatlin (@JamieGatlin17) March 15, 2023

Whitlock's return to the mound certainly was a welcomed sight for Red Sox Nation. He is expected to play a major role with Boston in 2023 and is expected to be one of the team's starting pitchers. He mainly has pitched out of the bullpen in his two season with the Red Sox, but Red Sox chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom pegged Whitlock as one of the team's five expected starters.

Boston didn't have Whitlock for Grapefruit League action before Wednesday's contest as he continued to rehab and recover from offseason hip surgery. He may not be ready for Opening Day, but if Wednesday is any indication, it won't be long until Whitlock is ready to fully go for the club.

All-in-all, Wednesday was an all-around win for the Red Sox and Whitlock.

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