FORT MYERS — The Red Sox have eased up a bit on Hector Velazquez — a smart, low-risk pickup out of the Mexican League last month — because his body wasn’t ready to handle the full load of major league spring training.
Velazquez allowed one run in his first two Grapefruit League outings, starts that lasted two innings apiece. Then, the 28-year-old right-hander allowed three runs in his next two outings, of three and two innings, respectively.
Elbow discomfort cropped up.
“I really didn’t have an offseason,” Velazquez said through translator Daveson Perez.