FORT MYERS, Fla. — Liam Hendriks has watched it all unfold with a mixture of amusement and bemusement.

“The last time I pitched in a competitive game, which was two years ago, I still threw relatively hard,” said Hendriks. “Now I’m the slow, old guy.”

While Hendriks offered the assessment with a chuckle, there was some truth to it. In 2021 and 2022, he was one of the hardest-throwing pitchers and best closers in baseball. His fastball sat at 97-98 miles per hour, setting up a nasty slider that often proved unhittable.

Lucas Giolito threw two simulated innings of live batting practice today, sitting at 94 mph. Most interesting pitch of the day was this curveball – Giolito has barely used his curve in years, but this one was ridiculously sharp (-17 inches of vertical break), and the pitch could re-enter his mix.

— Alex Speier (@alexspeier.bsky.social) 2025-03-06T21:39:33.086Z

 

But that was before he underwent treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma in late 2022 and then, following his return to the mound in 2023, Tommy John surgery. Now, while enjoying a healthy spring training for the first time in three years, the 36-year-old is still working to regain his old form — or something close to it.

In three spring outings, Hendriks has pitched three innings, allowing four runs on eight hits while striking out three. There have been flashes of promise as he’s touched 96 m.p.h., but more often he’s been working at 94 and struggling to get swings and misses. After pitching so infrequently over the last two seasons, the three-time All-Star is still working to lock in the mechanics and feel that will enliven his arsenal.

“The big thing I’m working on now is, ‘OK, I need to figure out how I can get that 96 from Pitch 1,’ ” said Hendriks. “The battle for me right now is just getting to that point where my A pitch comes off pitch number one.”

Hendriks is comfortable with the idea of using the spring as a gradual building process. He’s seen enough outing-to-outing progress to believe that he’s steadily shedding rust, and that by Opening Day, with the return to an adrenaline-infused environment of a big league game with results that matter, he’ll be ready to contribute in the late innings.

“It’s a process-driven sport, and right now I’m going through the process without the desired results. The good thing is, it’s spring training,” said Hendriks. “As soon as I start knocking that rust off a little bit more, that little weak contact turns into foul balls turns into swings-and-misses rather than just straight contact.”

Giolito throws a curve

Lucas Giolito had an up-and-down live batting practice, simulating two innings against Rafael Devers and Rob Refsnyder. It was Giolito’s third live batting practice session of the month. Though his fastball lacked its characteristic finish at the top of the zone, he commanded his entire arsenal well and was satisfied with his final tuneup before games.

“Of my three lives, this is the best one,” said Giolito, who suggested his stuff was “less electric” than in prior outings but his command, execution, and pitch sequencing were all game-like.

Giolito was particularly pleased with a nasty curveball he threw to Devers for a swing-and-miss. Giolito leaned heavily on his curve through his minor league and early big league career, but largely shelved it in his breakout season of 2019.

Rafael Devers took more than 10 live batting practice at-bats today – 5 against Lucas Giolito, and then at least another handful against Red Sox minor leaguers. This was his best swing (at least of the 10 PAs I saw):

— Alex Speier (@alexspeier.bsky.social) 2025-03-06T22:18:29.538Z

“Right now, the feel for it is there, and it’s a real pitch,” said Giolito. “I see that as very encouraging to really get back into having a true four-pitch mix.”

Giolito is now ready for his next test, a Grapefruit League start against the Phillies next week.

“Today was a great step, and it’s got me excited for the games,” said Giolito.

Devers not in the swing

Devers, who’d been scheduled to make his spring training debut on Wednesday, has pushed back that date in order to focus on getting as many plate appearances as possible in live batting practice.

“Last year, he got out of whack path-wise [on his swing] and they’ve been grinding through it,” manager Alex Cora told reporters in Dunedin. “Like I told him today [about playing in games], ‘You let me know when.’ As long as he’s there in Texas [on Opening Day], we’ll be OK.”

On Thursday, Devers had five plate appearances against Giolito, then had several more at-bats against a succession of Red Sox minor leaguers on the backfields at Fenway South (where he also stopped to sign a number of autographs for fans). …

Refsnyder back in the box

Refsnyder, who hasn’t played in a game since March 1, joined Devers in hitting against Giolito and Red Sox minor leaguers … Ceddanne Rafaela (hamstring tightness) ran and took part in both live batting practice and fielding drills. He’s expected to return to games this weekend … Wilyer Abreu was able to take part in non-game activities and could soon take live batting practice against Red Sox pitchers … Marcelo Mayer is expected to return from a stomach bug on Friday, while Roman Anthony is expected to be back on Saturday. As for Triston Casas, who was sent home on Tuesday? “He’s MIA. I don’t know if that’s Miami or Missing in Action. He hasn’t answered my texts,” laughed Cora. “Vaughn [Grissom] told me ― they’re roommates — that it’s not looking good. He’s alive, but …” … Red Sox officials will meet on Friday to discuss the first round of cuts from major league camp. Among players fighting for the last position spots, Cora offered praise for outfielders Trayce Thompson and Nate Eaton as well as infielder Nick Sogard … The Red Sox announced their roster for this year’s Spring Breakout Game, a series of prospect showcases between two clubs. The Sox’ roster will include not only the Big Three of Anthony, Kristian Campbell, and Mayer but also lower-levels prospects Franklin Arias, Yoeilin Cespedes, and Miguel Bleis as well as top pitching prospects David Sandlin, Connelly Early, Juan Valera, and Payton Tolle … The Garrett Crochet fastball that registered at 101 m.p.h. on the JetBlue Park scoreboard on Wednesday? Its actually velocity, after further investigation by the Red Sox, was … 100.9 m.p.h., making it faster than any pitch he threw in 2024.