BOSTON — Last Wednesday, Chris Martin went straight from the Injured List to the Red Sox’ active roster. He did not pass “Go,” he did not collect $200 and he did not stop for a minor league rehab assignment.
He simply started pitching again, seemingly impervious to the elbow inflammation that sidelined him in early July. That he has pitched as well as he has makes Martin’s return all the more remarkable. Over three appearances, Martin has tossed three scoreless innings, allowing just two hits — both singles — while striking out six. As ever, he’s been a strike-throwing machine with 72 percent of his pitches landing for strikes and no walks issued.
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But even Martin confessed to being surprised that he has been so effective without benefit of even a brief minor league assignment.
“To be honest, yes, I am surprised,” said Martin. “Obviously, this is the first time coming off an IL situation without rehabbing. I feel mechanically, there are things you can do (off the field) with dry work and things like that. It’s just the recovery stuff that was a question mark.”
Asked why he elected to skip a minor league rehab assignment of at least an outing or two, Martin cited the playoff race and the calendar.
“We’re kind of running out of time,” he said. “I felt like the bullpen was getting worked pretty hard. We’re right in there in the playoff hunt, so I just felt like, ‘Might as well get out there and get going competitively.’ Sometimes, a rehab assignment, you don’t have those competitive juices flowing. Hopefully, this was going to be able to speed up the process.”
His return couldn’t have been timed better. The Red Sox are without Justin Slaten, and have optioned two lefty relievers back to Worcester in the last week. The bullpen has been hit hard since the All-Star break and a fresh — and able — arm was more than welcome.
“He’s been good, the stuff has good, the command has been great,” said Alex Cora. “Obviously, we have to b be careful going back-to-back and all that. We talked about (an assignment first), but an outing in Worcester at 100 percent is basically an outing here, because he’s that good. We need him. We have to be careful, especially early. But at one point, he’ll do the back-to-back and he’ll be a full-go.”
Martin’s season has been interrupted three times this year. Earlier in the season, he experienced soreness in his left shoulder, which he managed to pitch through. Next came an IL stint for anxiety, followed by being sidelined by the elbow.
“Now, it feels like he’s close to 100 percent,” said Cora. “We’re going to be able to use him the right way and I think he’s going to be able to contribute.”
Martin was activated last Wednesday, the final game of a six-game road trip. Facing major league hitters for the first time in more than a month, Martin retired the Kansas City Royals in order on 15 pitches, striking out the side.
“Obviously, the results helped mentally,” said Martin. “That was good for the brain.”
On Saturday, he allowed a single in a shutout inning as the Red Sox tried to claw from behind against Houston. And on Monday night, as the Red Sox were locked in a tie game in the late innings against Texas, Martin pitched his customary eighth inning and allowed just one hit while recording two strikeouts.
The bigger challenge, to date, hasn’t come on the mound, but rather, in between outings as he looks to rebuild stamina in his throwing arm and quicken his recovery.
“Overall, my body feels good, so that’s a good sign,” Martin said. “The stuff’s been OK. The velo is down a little bit, but that’s to be expected. I feel like I’m staying in my delivery very well. That’s something we worked on here, doing dry work and stuff like that. I feel like the ball’s coming out pretty good, so once the velo comes back, we’ll be in a real good place.”
Martin likens his current status as similar to how he might feel coming out of spring training — building strength as he builds back arm strength.
