Chris Sale was supposed to be further along in his rehab by now. The Boston Red Sox nominal ace had been sidelined due to a stress fracture in his ribcage, but had been expected to be getting ready to return by now. However, an unspecified medical issue had postponed his return once more.
That medical issue no longer seems to be a concern. According to Alex Speier of the Boston Globe, Sale has started playing catch once again with an eye towards getting on the mound relatively soon.
Boston Red Sox hoping Chris Sale can provide boost to rotation
There was a time when Sale was one of the top pitchers in the game. He was an All Star for seven consecutive years after he entered the White Sox rotation, quickly establishing himself as their ace. He was one of the top trade targets when he was made available, netting Chicago an impressive list of prospects as Sale changed his Sox.
While Sale was everything that the Red Sox could have hoped for in his first two seasons in Boston, that has not been the case since the start of the 2019 season. Injuries have ruined his effectiveness and kept him from the mound, as Sale has a total of 34 outings since the beginning of the 2019 season.
The Red Sox could certainly use a healthy Sale as they look to climb out of an early season hole. The pitching staff has been a disaster, and getting Sale back would make a major difference, even if he is just 80% of the pitcher he had been.
But that is looking ahead. Right now, the Red Sox have to focus on getting Sale healthy and through a rehab assignment without any setbacks. His playing catch is a good first step, but that is all it is.
The Boston Red Sox need Chris Sale back in the rotation as soon as possible. He is starting to take those steps towards making his return.