Dan

Runzler

The 33-year-old southpaw spent the 2018 season pitching for the Sugar Land Skeeters of the independent Atlantic League where he compiled a 2.81 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 58/27 K/BB ratio across 48 innings. He’ll add minor league bullpen depth for the Red Sox.

Runzler aggravated an injury from last year earlier this month and was given a 4-6 week timetable to recover. It appears he might be a little ahead of that projection, but he might be optioned to Triple-A once he’s healthy.

Runzler suffered a lat strain at the end of last season and evidently still isn’t over the malady, which is obviously a concern. He had been slated to battle for the final spot in the Giants bullpen, but, depending on the results of the exam, might now be behind the eight ball.

Runzler tore the lat muscle in the final game of the regular season last year and felt something in the back of his shoulder during his most recent bullpen session. He visited Dr. James Andrews over the weekend in Florida, but was told that the injury will not require surgery. Instead he’s scheduled to fly to San Francisco in order to undergo a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment. “It’ll speed the process,” said Runzler. “In four to six weeks, I should be game ready. That’s definitely better than we originally thought. We can be aggressive with this.” Runzler expects to begin the season in extended spring training, but hopes to be game-ready by mid-April.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Tuesday in camp that Runzler should be up to speed soon. The right-hander had a rough 6.26 ERA in 31 appearances last year.

Runzler suffered a lat strain at the end of last season and appears to have aggravated the injury 20 pitches into a bullpen session on Friday. “I felt a pull on the shoulder where I hurt it before,” Runzler said. “Right now it’s hard to make any more comments because we don’t know the extent of it.’' An MRI showed Runzler’s rotator cuff and labrum still intact but surgery hasn’t been ruled out. Runzler needed a strong spring to win the final spot in the Giants’ bullpen, and a lat strain will likely sideline him for up to six weeks.

Runzler had been sidelined with an injured lat muscle, but looks to be ahead of his 4-6 week timetable. If all goes well in his recovery, he could be game-ready by mid-April.

Dolis doesn’t inspire a whole lot of confidence -- he had a 4/8 K/BB ratio in 16 1/3 innings this season -- but it looks like he’s the top choice in Chicago at the moment. James Russell came in during the seventh inning today and was charged with a run after giving up two hits. Kerry Wood gave up two runs in the eighth to eliminate Dolis’ margin for error in the ninth. All in all, that makes it a pretty great day for those who speculated on Dolis already.

After making 83 appearances with the Giants from 2009-2011, Runzler has spent the entire year in the minors, posting a 6.00 ERA and 34/15 K/BB ratio over 30 innings between High-A San Jose and Fresno. The 27-year-old southpaw will pitch in middle relief.

Runzler has been on the disabled list since the end of spring training due to a strained lat muscle. Even with the extended absence, he should only need a handful of rehab appearances to get properly tuned up for major league relief work. Look for him to join the Giants’ bullpen as a middle reliever by the end of June.