![\"Liam](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/03\/USATSI_23930461_168400885_lowres-scaled.jpg\")
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Boston Red Sox batters got hit with the injury bug early and often in 2024. But Red Sox pitchers were arguably even more affected. How else to explain turning to elder statesmen James Paxton and Rich Hill in the season\u2019s final months?<\/p>\n
Heading into 2025, a trio of pitchers who missed most or all of last year are back \u2014 sort of. Here\u2019s a rundown of their comeback stories.<\/p>\n
Among Red Sox pitchers, the one with the longest layoff also has the team\u2019s most complicated comeback story. A three-time All-Star, Liam Hendriks missed the start of the 2023 season. But it wasn\u2019t for a typical pitcher injury \u2014 he received treatment for Stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma.<\/p>\n
Declared cancer-free in April 2023, he returned to the Chicago White Sox the following month. However, he went on the 15-day injured list that June and had Tommy John surgery that August. Hendriks then signed a two-year, $10 million deal with Boston prior to the 2024 season. Considered a top candidate to take over closing duties from Kenley Jansen, he looked strong in minor-league rehabilitation appearances. However, he felt forearm tightness after his last game for Triple-A Worcester and was shut down in mid-September.<\/p>\n
Jansen signed with the Los Angeles Angels this past offseason, suggesting the Red Sox were content with Hendriks. Yet that faith has yet to be realized in spring training. The 36-year-old relief pitcher has posted a 9.95 ERA through 6 1\/3 innings.<\/p>\n
According to Alex Speier of The Boston Globe, Hendriks is content with taking his time to shake off the rust and find his old form. But while he\u2019s struggled, fellow former All-Star Aroldis Chapman is throwing missiles. The offseason signee has a 2.45 ERA and 17.2 K\/9 \u2014 and looks like the Red Sox\u2019s 2025 closer. Manager Alex Cora hasn\u2019t made an official decision, yet Hendriks recently endorsed Chapman as the man for the job.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s been pretty well proven this spring training who deserves that spot after earning it all spring and that\u2019s definitely not me,\u201d Hendriks told reporters after facing one batter in Boston\u2019s 2-1 loss March 20 to the Minnesota Twins. \u201cI always said I wanted to win it, but it\u2019s not the end of the world if I don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
In his short tenure with the Red Sox, Lucas Giolito can\u2019t seem to catch a break. A 2019 All-Star with the White Sox, he missed the entire 2024 season following elbow surgery in March. Poised for a healthy 2025, he entered spring training with Cora hoping for 30 starts from him this season. But in his March 11 preseason debut against the Philadelphia Phillies, Giolito pulled his hamstring after his first pitch. He then labored through one inning, giving up a hit, two earned runs, and two walks. He also struck out one.<\/p>\n
Giolito experienced hamstring injuries in 2019 and 2021, which may explain the team\u2019s abundance of caution with him. Cora is currently planning for Giolito to miss the start of the season. However, the pitcher himself claims to feel \u201c100% fine\u201d as of March 13. Brayan Bello (shoulder) and Kutter Crawford (knee) are also on the injured list. Red Sox pitchers Garrett Crochet, Tanner Houck, and Walker Buehler are confirmed for the starting rotation. Meanwhile, Quinn Priester, Richard Fitts, Cooper Criswell, and Josh Winckowski are top candidates for the final two spots.<\/p>\n
\nAlex Cora announced that Lucas Giolito will begin the season on the injured list. <\/p>\n
Giolito signed a two-year, $38.5M deal before the 2024 season, but has yet to pitch in the regular season for Boston. pic.twitter.com\/yb0FUtXygN<\/a><\/p>\n
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 13, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n