Andrew

Bailey

Bailey takes over as Red Sox manager Alex Cora’s new pitching coach after Dave Bush, who held the position for the past three years, was fired last month at the conclusion of the 2023 campaign. He’s one of the first significant hires for new president of baseball operations Craig Breslow, who played a pivotal role in the Cubs’ pitching plans the last few years. The 39-year-old former big leaguer, who spent two seasons as a pitcher in Boston from 2012-2013, has served as the Giants’ pitching coach for the last three seasons.

Interesting. It sounds like Bailey will have his pick of pitching coach jobs, with the Red Sox among the clubs believed to be interested, but this is something different and could put him on a path to being a manager someday. The former closer has spent the last four season as the Giants’ pitching coach, and the team would like to keep him, but he’s not currently under contract.

Bailey was struck in the face by a Kurt Suzuki line drive during pregame batting practice Monday. He’s showing no signs of a concussion but will undergo precautionary X-rays on Tuesday morning just to be safe.

It backs up what the A’s indicated earlier Tuesday. Bailey was struck in the face by a ball during pregame batting practice Monday, but he’s showing no signs of a concussion and is ready to resume his ninth-inning work.

Bailey had been limited to flat-ground work since suffering a minor lat pull last weekend. The 27-year-old should have no problem playing catch-up this month and readying himself for the start of the 2012 regular season. He’s a superb fantasy option at closer this year.

Bailey suffered a minor lat pull over the weekend while performing vertical leap drills. Barring any setbacks, the new Boston closer will get back on the mound for a bullpen session later this week.

Bailey, who underwent reconstructive thumb surgery on Wednesday, only offered that he was “fairly certain” he’ll pitch this season but didn’t know when that would be. The Red Sox have said they expect him to miss 3-4 months, with a return soon after the All-Star break looking like the ultimate goal.

Bailey will play catch Friday, long-toss Saturday and throw a bullpen session Sunday. He already had a bullpen session Thursday and didn’t have any issues, so it appears the minor lat pull is pretty much behind him. The 27-year-old is in line to close games for the Red Sox this season.

Bailey is returning from a strained lat muscle. As long as he avoids any setbacks, he should be Boston’s closer on Opening Day.

Bailey had pitched a couple of hitless innings since giving up a run in his spring debut. A couple of shaky outings now isn’t really anything to be too worried about, but now that he’s in Boston, he can expect every failure to be magnified, even when it’s in March.