NEW YORK -- Prior to Wednesday's game against the Yankees, Red Sox manager Alex Cora offered updates on a few of the team's injured players.
-- Reliever Tyler Thornburg has made four minor league rehab appearances following offseason surgery to relieve thoracic outlet syndrome. The right-hander has allowed two hits, struck out six and walked three in 3 2/3 innings. Cora indicated he's progressing, but still has a few more outings before a return to the big league club is possible.
"His rehab process, obviously he's not pitching every day," he said. "He hasn't gone back to back. We haven't used him yet with traffic on the bases. The feedback is good. The fastball is there. Breaking ball is getting better. Slowly but surely he's getting where we want him to be. When he passes all those hurdles, we'll make a decision."
-- Dustin Pedroia is still progressing in extended spring training, but there's no timetable on when he might be ready for a minor league rehab assignment.
"As of now, not yet," Cora said. "He's playing tomorrow, five innings, three at-bats, then we go from there."
-- Steven Wright's next appearance with Triple-A Pawtucket will come out of the bullpen for one or two innings. From there, the Red Sox will decide what to do with him next, although it appears he will be on the Red Sox' roster as he's out of options. It's just a matter of what his role will be.
Wright has five games remaining on his 15-game suspension.
In other news, Cora is hopeful Wednesday's day off will be good for Jackie Bradley Jr., who is 0 for his last 8 and 1 for his last 14.
"Obviously this is my first time doing this, but I do feel it gets to the point that you have to take a step back before you go forward," Cora said. "I'm not saying this is the time, because he didn't play last week and he played I don't know, four or five in a row, but he'll be -- it's very important that today for him, if he wants to go to the cage and take 500 swings, go ahead. If you want to go to the video and sit down and just watch video, that'll be great.
"Use the day for your advantage. Don't use it just to sit down at your locker and wonder what's going on. Take it to your advantage. We might need him late in the game. Hopefully he comes in to play defense late in the games and if it's a tie game late and he has to hit, he'll hit and get a big hit. But I think it's an important day for him just to sit back and see what's going on and work on it."
