Carson Smith is back, but that doesn’t mean the Red Sox have another set-up man.
Manager John Farrell joked that Smith would be the new 18th-inning guy after Smith’s work in Tuesday’s 19-inning win over Toronto. Fresh off 15 months recovering from Tommy John surgery, Smith flashed an average velocity of 92 mph on his sinker — just a tick below his career average — and a slick slider.
The Red Sox were encouraged, but Smith is likely to slowly be worked into the bullpen in low-leverage situations.
“It was good stuff, it was consistent with what he had shown on rehab.