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  6. article_body => "<p>BALTIMORE \u2014 It\u2019s June now and that\u2019s the time everyone pointed to when it came to Carson Smith\u2019s rehab from Tommy John surgery.<\/p>\n<p>He\u2019s getting close.<\/p>\n<p>The Red Sox' righty reliever is planning to throw another bullpen with batters standing in (but not swinging) this weekend. Then, at Yankee Stadium, where the Sox play Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, he\u2019s to throw live batting practice, which he may need to do only once ahead of a minor-league rehab assignment.<\/p>\n<p>Sometime this week, then, Smith could be in a minor league game and on the brink of returning to the Red Sox.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s gonna be based off how it goes,\u201d Smith said. \u201cIf I feel good and I mean, and I feel healthy, most importantly, then I may reach a rehab stint after that [live BP in New York] or maybe have one more. I don\u2019t see more than two, though.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe target date was June and it is June now, and I still hope to come back at some point this month. I\u2019m happy with that and I know there\u2019s been bumps along the road, I mean, they\u2019ve been pretty minimal. So, I can\u2019t complain too much. I know guys that have been through this process and not fully healed until 18 months after. Takes a full season, and then an extra offseason. I\u2019m feeling good.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Soreness has been a part of the return from Tommy John. It\u2019s not soreness that is necessary alarming, but that\u2019s what\u2019s perhaps slowed Smith just a tad in an imprecise process. Muscles are re-activating. Not just in the elbow, but in the shoulder too.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJust training your body how to pitch again, it can be tough,\u201d Smith said. \u201cYour mechanics can be adjusted just from not doing it in a long time, or just stressing your shoulder in a way that it hasn\u2019t been able to be stressed, because it\u2019s your elbow. So, there\u2019s other things. I know guys that have lat problems. So there\u2019s many things, just being accustomed to the force being put on your body through your delivery. It can be tough on somebody.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Smith said his mechanics, which are unorthodox, are the same as they were before.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve never been a real mechanical guy, it\u2019s just natural how I throw,\u201d Smith said. \u201cI feel good. Nobody\u2019s told me otherwise. So I just assume my mechanics are good. Nothing\u2019s really changed. There are days if my shoulder\u2019s barking or something, I may just make sure it\u2019s consistent with what it usually is.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He acknowledged he has at times felt his shoulder being cranky.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJust like spring training, any of these guys coming off surgery, coming into spring training, you\u2019re going to hit a road bump or a week span or so just to get your shoulder committed to the stresses needed to be in season\u2019s shape,\u201d Smith said. \u201cI think I\u2019m just going through that now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Wade Miley, the principal piece the Red Sox traded to the Mariners for Smith in the 2015-16 offseason, beat his old team on Thursday. Miley\u2019s with the Orioles now.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s with this team now,\u201d Smith said. \u201cThere\u2019s been many moves since then. Honestly, I don\u2019t look too much into it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>With Smith nearing, the Red Sox might get their payoff.<br>&nbsp;<\/p>\n"
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Red Sox

Red Sox

BALTIMORE — It’s June now and that’s the time everyone pointed to when it came to Carson Smith’s rehab from Tommy John surgery.

He’s getting close.

The Red Sox' righty reliever is planning to throw another bullpen with batters standing in (but not swinging) this weekend. Then, at Yankee Stadium, where the Sox play Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, he’s to throw live batting practice, which he may need to do only once ahead of a minor-league rehab assignment.

Sometime this week, then, Smith could be in a minor league game and on the brink of returning to the Red Sox.

“It’s gonna be based off how it goes,” Smith said. “If I feel good and I mean, and I feel healthy, most importantly, then I may reach a rehab stint after that [live BP in New York] or maybe have one more. I don’t see more than two, though.

“The target date was June and it is June now, and I still hope to come back at some point this month. I’m happy with that and I know there’s been bumps along the road, I mean, they’ve been pretty minimal. So, I can’t complain too much. I know guys that have been through this process and not fully healed until 18 months after. Takes a full season, and then an extra offseason. I’m feeling good.”

Soreness has been a part of the return from Tommy John. It’s not soreness that is necessary alarming, but that’s what’s perhaps slowed Smith just a tad in an imprecise process. Muscles are re-activating. Not just in the elbow, but in the shoulder too.

 

“Just training your body how to pitch again, it can be tough,” Smith said. “Your mechanics can be adjusted just from not doing it in a long time, or just stressing your shoulder in a way that it hasn’t been able to be stressed, because it’s your elbow. So, there’s other things. I know guys that have lat problems. So there’s many things, just being accustomed to the force being put on your body through your delivery. It can be tough on somebody.”

Smith said his mechanics, which are unorthodox, are the same as they were before.

“I’ve never been a real mechanical guy, it’s just natural how I throw,” Smith said. “I feel good. Nobody’s told me otherwise. So I just assume my mechanics are good. Nothing’s really changed. There are days if my shoulder’s barking or something, I may just make sure it’s consistent with what it usually is.”

He acknowledged he has at times felt his shoulder being cranky.

“Just like spring training, any of these guys coming off surgery, coming into spring training, you’re going to hit a road bump or a week span or so just to get your shoulder committed to the stresses needed to be in season’s shape,” Smith said. “I think I’m just going through that now.”

Wade Miley, the principal piece the Red Sox traded to the Mariners for Smith in the 2015-16 offseason, beat his old team on Thursday. Miley’s with the Orioles now.

“He’s with this team now,” Smith said. “There’s been many moves since then. Honestly, I don’t look too much into it.”

With Smith nearing, the Red Sox might get their payoff.