Veteran right-hander strikes out seven over 3.1 hitless innings at JetBlue Park.
While much of the Red Sox’ split-squad action took place on the road in Clearwater, FL on Thursday, one of the club’s most important arms spent the afternoon working in relative quiet back in Fort Myers.
Rather than make the roughly 270-mile trip across Florida, veteran right-hander Sonny Gray opted to stay at JetBlue Park and throw a simulated game - a common spring training approach for established starters looking to build up their workload in a more controlled environment.
For Gray, the outing represented a step forward.
The right-hander worked 3.1 scoreless innings without allowing a hit, walking two and striking out seven while throwing 36 of his 52 pitches for strikes.
He finished particularly strong, retiring the final five batters he faced while working efficiently through a lineup made up of Red Sox hitters that included Kristian Campbell, Andruw Monasterio, Carlos Narvaez and Mikey Romero.
“The goal was 50-55 pitches, so it was a good day,” Gray told the media afterwards. “We’ll go from here.”
It was a noticeably sharper performance than his spring debut last weekend, when command proved elusive and he managed just 13 strikes among his 31 pitches in an outing against the Minnesota Twins.
“More strikes, but not enough,” Gray said of Thursday’s work. “It’s getting there.”
That gradual progression is exactly what the Red Sox are hoping to see from the veteran as the regular season approaches. Gray has long been known for his meticulous approach to preparation, and the club has reportedly leaned on his experience throughout camp as both a rotation anchor and a sounding board for younger pitchers.
Elsewhere on the back fields, two other notable arms also got their work in.
Veteran closer Aroldis Chapman needed 19 pitches to navigate a one-inning outing but ultimately escaped trouble after stranding two runners, ending the frame with a strikeout of Monasterio.
Left-hander Patrick Sandoval continued his return from Tommy John surgery, allowing one run on two hits over two innings while throwing 34 pitches.
For the Red Sox, it was a quieter day on the Fort Myers back fields - but one that still moved several key arms a little closer to being ready when the games start to count.
Feb 15, 2024; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Sonny Gray (54) talks with catcher Ivan Herrera (48) during workouts at spring training. (Jim Rassol/Imagn Images)JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
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Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.