Corey Kluber to start rehab project Friday with hope of returning this season

The Boston Crimson Sox may very well be gaining reinforcements to help of their playoff push as the ultimate month of the season begins.

Crimson Sox pitcher Corey Kluber will start a rehab project this week, per MassLive’s Sean McAdam. This project will start on Friday, the place Kluber will reportedly begin Triple-A Worcester’s sport in opposition to the Gwinnett Stripers.

The Crimson Sox positioned Kluber on the 15-day harm listing with proper shoulder irritation on June 21. After little success in an earlier rehab stint, Kluber was shut down on July 29 and transferred to the 60-day IL on Aug. 25 to make room on the 40-man roster for recently-acquired aid pitcher Zack Weiss. 

McAdam stories that Kluber tossed two innings of reside batting apply at Tropicana Area on Thursday, and he’s aiming to make a return to Boston earlier than the season’s finish.

“I assumed [batting practice] went effectively,” Kluber instructed McAdam. “It was a great step.”

It’s been a tough season for Kluber, the two-time Cy Younger winner who began for the Crimson Sox on opening day. Since then, he compiled a 6.26 ERA in 9 begins, encouraging the crew to demote him to the bullpen. He then raised his ERA to 7.04 with a 1.636 WHIP earlier than the Crimson Sox put him on the IL. 

Kluber did certainly undergo irritation in his shoulder, McAdam stories, that means that his stint on the IL was not on account of a phantom harm. McAdam additionally stories that the present plan for the Crimson Sox is to maintain Kluber within the bullpen, however he is aware of that these plans can change.

“I don’t wish to fear about [roles] or that form of stuff,” Kluber instructed McAdam. I don’t wish to get forward of myself.”

McAdam famous that the Crimson Sox actually worth Kluber’s clubhouse presence, as he’s embraced a job as a mentor and teammate. Garrett Whitlock credited him for serving to him modify to a job as a starter earlier than he returned to the bullpen. If Kluber returns to Boston, it’s simple to ascertain him persevering with to assist Whitlock and different younger pitchers on the Crimson Sox embrace the key leagues.

At one level within the season, it appeared as if Kluber wouldn’t pitch once more for the Crimson Sox. However now, it appears as if he has a chance to return and make each reminiscence of this season’s starting disappear.