Richard Fitts was amid a strong outing for the Red Sox when the Boston starter exited the game in the sixth inning due to right shoulder pain.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora updated reporters on Fitts following Boston’s 3-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field.
“He has right shoulder pain,” Cora said. “He’s going to go to Boston tomorrow, and we’ll where we’re at. He’s gonna get an MRI; I think it’s Monday, and we’ll know from there.”
Fitts finished five scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and one walk with five strikeouts. Having the starting pitcher exit early with any injury is always concerning.
“Whenever you have to come out of a game and talk about MRIs, you always get concerned,” Cora explained. “He really wanted to keep going, but my job is to take care of my players. Hopefully, we stopped at the right time, and he doesn’t miss too much time.”
The 25-year-old right-hander shared his update with the media in the visitors’ clubhouse.
“I’m not sure yet,” Fitts said of how he is concerned with. “It’s really disappointing for it to happen, especially in the game that we were having today. I feel confident in our team and our staff that they’ll make the right decisions, and we’re going to find out what’s going on.”
Fitts had thrown his 76th pitch when something didn’t feel right.
“Something different that I hadn’t felt before,” he explained. “I felt like I was in a groove, and then I felt like I wasn’t able to throw my best pitches, so I had to come out there.
“It’s close to the shoulder, but we’re going to figure out exactly what’s going on and kind of go from there. We’ve got a good staff, and we’ll figure out what’s going on.”
The Red Sox have one more game against the White Sox before traveling to Tampa Bay for a three-game set with the Rays. Fitts is hoping to have the injury figured out before his next start.
“I’ve never missed a start in my professional career,” Fitts said. “I take a lot of pride in my health, and I hope nothing’s going on.
“I’m heading back (to Boston tomorrow). I wasn’t even supposed to throw in Tampa anyway, so hopefully, I don’t miss a beat, and we’ll be back going soon.”
