Back to the Boston Red Sox Newsfeed

Red Sox shifting Kelly to relief role

BOSTON -- Now that Joe Kelly is healthy again, the Red Sox are ready to ramp him back up -- as a reliever.

The power righty, who has struggled to be consistent as a starter since coming to Boston on July 31, 2014, could give manager John Farrell another viable option in the mid- to late innings.

Kelly was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket on June 2 and injured his right groin a few days later.

"He threw a 40-pitch bullpen today," said Farrell. "He'll throw another one on Monday and we will get him back into games hopefully by mid-week some point and he'd come back as a reliever, not a starter.