Red Sox Place Richard Fitts on 15-Day IL: Team Welcomes Michael Fulmer to the Roster

The Red Sox have made a significant roster move, placing right-hander Richard Fitts on the 15-day injured list due to a right pectoral strain. Michael Fulmer has been called up from Triple-A to fill the gap. This injury comes after Fitts showed signs of discomfort in the sixth inning of his last game, leaving fans worried about his condition. Initially thought to be right shoulder pain, the discovery of a pec strain is somewhat reassuring, but Fitts may be out longer than the minimum 15 days. The team has yet to announce a recovery timeline.

Currently, Fitts is the sixth starting pitcher for the Red Sox on the injured list. Chris Murphy and Patrick Sandoval are out until at least midseason, with Kutter Crawford and Brayan Bello dealing with their own injuries. While Bello and Lucas Giolito are making progress in their rehab outings, the team isn’t rushing their return. With the next game not requiring a fifth starter until April 22, there’s a bit more time for them to recover.

Fitts’ impressive performance earlier this season, with a 3.18 ERA in his first three starts, was part of what earned him a spot in the rotation. Overall, he holds a 2.39 ERA over 37 2/3 innings in the majors this season.

As for Fulmer, he could step into the starting rotation, having previously started two out of three games in Worcester. Fulmer’s journey has been challenging after undergoing UCL revision surgery, which kept him off the field for the entire 2024 season. The Red Sox signed him to a minor league deal last October with the hope of bringing him back strong.

Fulmer made his big league debut with the Tigers in 2016 and quickly became a standout, earning the AL Rookie of the Year title. He followed that with an All-Star season in 2017. However, setbacks—including missing the entire 2019 season due to Tommy John surgery—made his path more difficult. Transitioning to relief pitching revitalized his career, and he found success through his effectiveness as a reliever, posting a 3.55 ERA from 2021 to 2023.

Now that he’s part of the Red Sox active roster, it will be interesting to see how manager Alex Cora utilizes Fulmer. Cora’s strategy may involve varying roles for Fulmer to maximize his contribution, possibly even involving him in the starting rotation.

The current situation highlights a bigger trend in baseball: injuries can dramatically shift team dynamics. According to a recent report by the Society for American Baseball Research, injuries can lead to a significant drop in team performance. In this case, Red Sox fans will be watching closely to see how the team adapts on the field.

For further details on player health and performance statistics, check out the MLB Injury Report.

Source link

michael fulmer,richard fitts