Righthander Bryan Mata is on the shift.
Virtually 16 months eradicated from Tommy John surgery, the Pink Sox prospect has still left Fort Myers to begin a rehab assignment with Solitary-A Salem. The assignment represents the beginning of an predicted ascent again by way of the Red Sox technique that should convey Mata to Triple-A Worcester – or possibly even the major leagues – by season’s conclude.
Mata, 23, pitched in a few extended spring coaching game titles. He showed elite velocity in his 1st outing in Fort Myers – topping out at 101 in two innings – in advance of working at “just” 99 mph in his second outing and 98 in his third.
In 2019, Mata went 7-7 with a 3.43 Era with 111 strikeouts and 42 walks in 105 innings in between Significant-A Salem and Double-A Portland. He showed overpowering stuff at the Alt Website in 2020 – when the minimal league period was canceled – and appeared like a applicant to assistance in the huge leagues at some place in 2021. In its place, he tore his ulnar collateral ligament in spring education, demanding operation and a prolonged rehab system in Fort Myers.
Now, that he’s progressed to the stage exactly where he’s prepared to get started competing in formal games again. Mata could start off for Salem as soon as this coming weekend.
Alex Speier can be arrived at at [email protected]. Observe him on Twitter at @alexspeier.