Red Sox Issue Positive Update On Forgotten Relief Pitcher

The Boston Red Sox have finally received some good news regarding Justin Slaten.

Slaten, who hasn’t pitched in almost two months, has repeatedly undergone setbacks from the right shoulder inflammation that sent him to the injured list on June 1. Boston was perplexed with the majority of them, eventually finding out he’d been dealing with a nerve issue.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora issued his latest update on the right-hander on Friday.

“Slaten says that he’s feeling better, so hopefully next week we can move forward and take a step toward being on the mound,” Cora said, as transcribed by MassLive’s Christopher Smith.

Boston will not push things with the 27-year-old, especially considering they’ve found adequate bullpen depth with the likes of Jordan Hicks, Jorge Alcala and Justin Wilson stepping into late-inning roles.

Slaten’s return would allow things to fall where they were initially intended, however, which is all the organization could ask for at this point int he season.