Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy on Tuesday afternoon called the trade for Adley Rutschman a "huge addition" and "a strong statement to the group."
Of course, the question now is: When will Boston actually reap the rewards of that addition? Rutschman is currently on the injured list with left wrist inflammation, an ailment that has kept him out of action since July 18.
"Not a timeline yet," Tracy said. "I will tell you, he's already hitting. Like, he is in the midst of a hitting progression, so he's creeping closer. But he just got here. He's still meeting all of our medical staff, seeing exactly where he's at, and then them determining with how he feels, where he's at, and between his own subjective opinion on how he feels, and what are the next steps on when can we get him out on a rehab. So haven't gotten there yet, but he is swinging a bat and hitting right now."
Chad Tracy says there’s “no timeline” yet for new Red Sox catcher Adley Rutschman to return from the IL, but that he is already hitting. pic.twitter.com/hErZ0OaWXo
— WEEI (@WEEI) August 4, 2026
Rutschman himself offered a similar outlook pregame, saying he and the Red Sox medical staff will come up with a more concrete plan in the next couple days. In the meantime, he plans on making sure he learns everything he can about the Boston pitching staff.
"I'm definitely going to try and utilize the time as as much as possible to be able to get get to know these guys and just really understand what works best and how I can best serve them," Rutschman said.
Tracy also provided updates on some other injured Red Sox, including Roman Anthony and Garrett Crochet -- both of whom have taken small but positive steps in recent days.
"Roman continues to swing. Today he actually took overhand BP in the cage, which is another step in the right direction," Tracy said. "So we're kind of like, you're in phases with this. Like early on, it was tee and flips, which he managed well. Hit BP today for the first time. I think it's a scheduled recovery day tomorrow, and then get back to overhand BP again. So, keep him in this phase now and see how he responds to that, and then hopefully advance him past that. But he's doing well.
"And then Garrett started throwing yesterday, 50-60 feet. As you guys know, he's been down a while. So, we're in like the very infant stages, very short. But he did have a ball in his hand and was throwing it, which is good. So he's probably going to be in that really short range throwing right now, and then we'll move him along as he goes. But he does have a ball in his hand throwing it, which is good."
Chad Tracy says Roman Anthony took overhand BP for the first time on Tuesday, and Garrett Crochet started throwing 50-60 feet on Monday. pic.twitter.com/UtcdkCmf8u
— WEEI (@WEEI) August 4, 2026
Tracy said he still didn't have a clear idea of how many more steps Anthony would have to take before starting a rehab assignment, but noted that one of the next steps if he gets through this light BP stage would be facing increased velocity.
As for Crochet, Tracy said the 2025 Cy Young runner-up has "a chance for sure" of returning this season, but that there's "still a lot of hurdles to climb."
