Boston Red Sox pitcher Vinny Nittoli has been sidelined after experiencing elbow pain during a spring training outing. The 35-year-old non-roster invitee underwent an MRI, with results pending. Manager Alex Cora confirmed the shutdown to assess the injury further.
In Fort Myers, Florida, during spring training, Red Sox right-hander Vinny Nittoli encountered an elbow issue in his most recent appearance against the Minnesota Twins on Saturday. The team shut him down immediately, and he underwent an MRI on Tuesday. As of Wednesday, the club was still awaiting the results.
"We’ll know more today, but he was in pain so we have to shut him down," manager Alex Cora said.
Nittoli, a 35-year-old non-roster invitee vying for a spot on the roster, has limited major league experience. Over four seasons from 2021 to 2024, he appeared in 15 MLB games, most recently with the Baltimore Orioles. Last year, he spent the entire season in Triple-A, splitting time between affiliates of the Milwaukee Brewers and Orioles, where he recorded a 4.58 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 39 1/3 innings.
Prior to the injury, Nittoli had pitched in three games this spring for Boston. He delivered two scoreless innings but struggled in one outing, allowing four runs in two-thirds of an inning.
The injury comes at a challenging time for Nittoli as he aims to earn a place on the major league team. Additional updates from the Red Sox camp include reevaluation for infielder Romy Gonzalez on Friday following a PRP shot for his left shoulder, and live batting practice for pitchers Patrick Sandoval and Kutter Crawford on the same day as they recover from last season's injuries. First baseman Triston Casas, sidelined by a ruptured patellar tendon, is progressing but remains weeks from daily action, according to Cora. Infielder Anthony Seigler is gradually returning from a knee issue and took ground balls on Wednesday.
