Red Sox’s Alex Cora Reveals Return Date Of Pitcher Lucas Giolito

The long-awaited Boston Red Sox debut of right-handed pitcher Lucas Giolito is just around the corner, and it’s been a long time coming.

Giolito joined the Red Sox on a two-year, $38.5 million deal in free agency last offseason as the organization’s biggest addition. The 2019 All-Star was slated to fill a leadership role in Boston’s rotation, but as soon as spring training rolled around, Giolito suffered a partial tear in his right UCL — a season-ending injury.

Since then, Giolito has worked toward a return and was expected to be ready as soon as the season started. But Giolito suffered another setback after feeling left hamstring tightness, and with a rehab start scheduled either Friday or Saturday night, Red Sox manager Alex Cora revealed the next step for the 30-year-old.

“The plan is for him to rejoin us next week,” Cora said Tuesday at Fenway Park, per MassLive’s Christopher Smith.

Boston was without Giolito, Kutter Crawford and Brayan Bello — two of its key starting pitchers — to begin the season, but the rest of the rotation has held the fort down. Sean Newcomb and Richard Fitts, both of whom entered spring training without a definite role, have given the Red Sox quality innings from the mound. The bullpen has converted eight saves, thus far, which ranks second in the American League, and the offense has shown flashes despite undergoing a few early-season skids.

Garrett Crochet has demonstrated the ace-caliber qualities that Boston envisioned when the front office coughed up a four-prospect package in December’s trade with the Chicago White Sox. So if Giolito can contribute, coupled with Tuesday night’s Bello return against the Seattle Mariners, the Red Sox could be in the business.

Giolito, who last pitched a full season for the Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels and Cleveland Guardians in 2023, recorded a 4.88 ERA and tossed a career high 33 starts (184 1/3 innings). With Nick Pivetta gone and now a member of the San Diego Padres, the Red Sox could use a durability arm in the staff capable of taking on that load, and it’s even more encouraging considering Giolito has All-Star potential added to the mix.

“I feel ready to go,” Giolito said Monday, per Smith. “Finally hitting the five-inning mark was good, so I feel ready to help contribute in whatever way possible.”

The Triple-A Worcester Red Sox will pitch Giolito this weekend while the big league clubs wrap up a three-game series in Cleveland against the Guardians. So, it’s likely that during the team’s next two sets, against the Toronto Blue Jays and Minnesota Twins, would be when Giolito joins the team and debuts.

With the regular season still in its early stage, Giolito has plenty of time to provide an impact as the Red Sox strive toward a postseason spot.