Boston Red Sox pitcher Steven Wright will start the season on the disabled list after getting a PRP injection in his left knee, but the team says he did not suffer a setback.
"It's just part of the process," manager Alex Cora said. "I think we pushed him hard enough, but now we ran out of time. So we're going to make sure he takes his time. Whatever it is, sooner rather than later. He's in a good spot, but we ran out of time with him."
Wright underwent a cartilage-restoration procedure on the knee in May of last year, causing him to miss the remainder of the season.
The knuckleballer will be eligible to be activated on April 5 but then must serve a 15-game suspension for violating the league's domestic violence policy. That means the earliest he can return to the mound will be April 22.
It's unclear if Wright will return to the starting rotation or be used out of the bullpen. Chris Sale, David Price, Rick Porcello, Hector Velazquez, and Brian Johnson make up Boston's current starting rotation.
After making the All-Star team in 2016, Wright went 1-3 with an 8.25 ERA in five appearances (all starts) last season before undergoing surgery.
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