TAMPA — That Lucas Giolito avoided a second Tommy John surgery when he had his ulnar collateral ligament repaired on Tuesday was good news for the Red Sox.
The internal brace procedure performed by Dr. Jeffrey Dugas in Birmingham, Ala., improves the odds of Giolito returning early in the 2025 season, perhaps even at the start.
But it does not guarantee it. Many teams are still using the same rehabilitation protocols for pitchers with a brace as they would for those who had ligament replacement surgery.
“Hopefully he gets back sooner rather than later, whenever that is,” manager Alex Cora said Wednesday. “I do believe it was the best-case scenario.”
Giolito, 29, was injured pitching against the Twins on March 1.
“We don’t know how the rehab is going to go,” Cora said. “The hope is for him to be ready whenever he’s [supposed to be] ready.
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“But seeing what has happened with this procedure in the past, he’s going to be able to go out there and throw his changeup [and] a good fastball and help the Red Sox win some ballgames.”
Giolito was signed to a one-year, $18 million contract with a $19 million option for 2025. Given the injury, it’s all but certain he will pick up the option.
Refsnyder on the shelf
The pitch that struck Rob Refsnyder on the left foot on Tuesday fractured his pinkie toe. It’s a displaced fracture, which will not require surgery. But he could miss 4-6 weeks.
“I’m going to push it a little bit,” Refsnyder said. “It’s obviously disappointing.”
Refsnyder has hit .273 with a .768 OPS over two seasons with the Sox, largely against lefthanders. He’s also a reliable defender in the outfield.
“Now somebody else has an opportunity to make this team … it’s a tough one,” Cora said.
The Sox could go with five outfielders. Or they could add a righthanded hitter to the roster and use Ceddanne Rafaela as an outfielder and backup middle infielder.
Cora said Bobby Dalbec will soon get some games in the outfield. He has no major league experience there but did play 36 games in right field for Triple A Worcester last season.
“Let’s see where it takes us,” Cora said.
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Anatomy of a rocket
Triston Casas belted a 421-foot home run off lefthander Carlos Rodón in the fourth inning of Wednesday’s 9-4 victory against the Yankees.
The 109-mile-per-hour shot sailed over the wall and beyond the roof shielding the fans sitting in right-center. With the count full, Casas stayed back on a fastball then took an aggressive swing.
“I got it really well. I think that’s all I’ve got,” Casas said. “Thankfully, that’s all I need.”
Casas doesn’t usually take such a hard swing against a lefthander. But he did for a reason.
“It was only aggressive because his stuff moves so late,” Casas said. “I feel like I have to make a decision as close to the plate as possible, so I have to swing hard.
“I’m really trying to let the ball travel and take my best swing as late as possible. So they are with a lot more intensity than a pitcher that I can see the ball really well against.”
Mata takes the mound
Righthander Bryan Mata, who has been unable to pitch because of a strained right hamstring, threw a 15-pitch bullpen at Fenway South, mainly utilizing his fastball. Vaughn Grissom, out with a groin strain, tracked Mata’s pitches in the box. “I felt good and confident,” Mata said through team translator Carlos Villoria Benitez. “I’m ready for whatever comes next.” The plan is for Mata to throw another bullpen. He could face hitters next week and perhaps get in a game before camp ends … Greg Weissert, one of the pitchers obtained from the Yankees for Alex Verdugo, threw a scoreless seventh inning. He has allowed one earned run on three hits over 4⅔ innings … The Sox are 6-1 against AL East foes in spring training.
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Julian McWilliams of the Globe staff contributed to this report from Fort Myers, Fla.
Peter Abraham can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @PeteAbe.