The Red Sox aren't far away from getting some much-needed bullpen help.
Ryan Brasier will be taking a significant step toward returning to the Red Sox Tuesday, starting his minor-league rehab assignment in Worcester with the WooSox.
The relief outing will be the first time Brasier has pitched in competitive game since being hit in the side of the head with an 104 mph line-drive in Fort Myers, Fla. The incident left Brasier with a concussion, while necessitating stitches after the ball left a gash in his ear.
Brasier spent last week with the WooSox, pitching in live batting practices.
The 33-year-old has endured numerous obstacles since the conclusion of the 2020 season. Brasier first fractured the fifth metacarpal on his throwing hand the day before Thanksgiving. He then was forced to spend time away from the team at the outset of spring training due to the passing of his father. Then, midway through March, the righty suffered a calf injury when left the pitcher out of action for more than two months.
At the time the incident involving the line-drive, Brasier was scheduled to go out on a minor-league rehab assignment the next day.
Brasier served as the Red Sox most reliable reliever for much of the 2020 season, 1.89 ERA and .192 batting average against in his last 18 appearances.