Lucas Giolito back with ‘mental grind’ of injury rehab as he arranges to join deep group of Red Sox starters

On the final day of spring training, as the crowd roared at Fenway South during the Red Sox’ game against the Twins, Lucas Giolito stood on a back field, trying to reconnect with what he heard some 300 yards away.

From elbow surgery last spring which caused him to sit out the entire year, to a hamstring injury that Giolito described as “wasn’t too much of anything” this spring, it has been a long time coming for the righthander.

“It’s been more of a mental grind,” Giolito said. “We just had to get some things strengthened up and get some good treatment. And it really kind of took care of itself. I mean, overall, just looking forward to being back on my normal five-day routine, really get all that ingrained and build up to go help the boys over on the other side.”

That other side should be sooner rather than later after Giolito tossed two scoreless innings in a minor league contest, yielding just a hit while striking out four. He threw 32 pitches, 19 for strikes.

“It’s been a long, annoying road, but I felt 100 percent,” added Giolito. “I’m really trying to work on some really different types of sequences, trying to work on spin, getting the slider dialed in. I’m throwing a lot of changeups, but yeah, overall, my body feels really good.”

With Giolito, Kutter Crawford (right knee), and Brayan Bello (right shoulder) set to begin the season on the injured list, Richard Fitts and, likely, Sean Newcomb will fill the final two spots in the rotation. The depth of the team’s pitching rotation excites Giolito.

“I think what Garrett [Crochet] has done this spring training is not surprising, but it gets everyone excited for him to lead the staff at an extremely high level,” Giolito said of the Sox’ Opening Day starter. “That kind of breeds, that healthy competition. Walker Buehler is in here. He’s one of the most competitive guys I’ve ever been around. I’m really excited to get back and join that group.”

Giolito has yet to take the Fenway Park mound as a member of the Red Sox. He’s only been able to hear the excitement from the dugout or clubhouse. Soon enough, he’ll get to experience it firsthand.

“I just really want to soak in the moment,” he said. “I feel like time, as I get older, moves faster. When I think about my entire career, it’s gone by [quick]. At the same time, the rehab process is so slow and grueling. But. honestly, [pitching at Fenway] will be about taking in the moment, take some good deep breaths, looking around, and enjoying it. Then focusing on getting to work.”

Updates on rotation pieces

Sox manager Alex Cora didn’t mince his words regarding Tanner Houck’s outing Saturday against the Rays. Houck yielded 10 runs (all earned) on 12 hits and two walks in a start that lasted just 3⅔ innings.

“Honestly, pitch selection was horrible,” Cora said. “He threw 10 sinkers to lefties and all of them were inside. When we get there on Friday [Game 2 of the regular season against the Rangers], it’s gonna be a lot different. I think the location of the slider was off. Location of the sinker was off. He doesn’t do that in the season.”

Although Houck had a bad spring, the righthander is encouraged that he will turn around his fortune by the start of the season.

Bello is scheduled to pitch in two contests during Triple A Worcester’s six-game road series at Jacksonville against the Marlins’ affiliate.

Buehler was scheduled to start Sunday but he came down with the stomach bug that affected the team throughout camp. Instead, on Monday he is scheduled to throw six up-and-downs. Cora said the righthander will be ready for the third game of the Sox’ series against the Rangers.

Quinn Priester was optioned to minor league camp, meaning there’s a strong chance Newcomb, a Brockton native, will win the fifth spot in the rotation.

Abreu readying for Opening Day

The Red Sox are all but certain right fielder Wilyer Abreu will be ready for Opening Day after a late start to camp caused by a gastrointestinal issue, but he won’t travel with the team to Monterrey, Mexico, for exhibitions Monday and Tuesday. He will remain in Fort Myers and get more at-bats … Designated hitter Rafael Devers, shortstop Trevor Story, and utility player Romy Gonzalez (oblique) also won’t travel. Cora expects Gonzalez to be ready for Opening Day as well … Fitts will start Monday night against Sultanes de Monterrey and minor leaguer Shane Drohan will take the ball Tuesday.

On the final day of spring training, as the crowd roared at Fenway South during the Red Sox’ game against the Twins, Lucas Giolito stood on a back field, trying to reconnect with what he heard some 300 yards away.

Updates on rotation pieces

Abreu readying for Opening Day

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