On Friday, the Boston Red Sox announced a few roster moves, which included sending starter Johan Oviedo to the 15-day Injured List with an elbow strain. The Red Sox are currently taking on the San Diego Padres in a three-game series.
The corresponding move was recalling Tyler Uberstine from Triple-A Worcester to make his MLB debut. On Saturday, Boston’s Alex Cora made a follow-up statement to Red Sox reporters that Oviedo will see Dr. Keith Miester on Tuesday to discover the severity of the elbow injury.
As always with elbow strains, Tommy John Surgery is a possibility. Dr. Meister performed Oviedo’s first Tommy John procedure.
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Red Sox Will Have to Hold Their Breathe With Johan Oviedo Injury
GettyFORT MYERS, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 17: Johan Oviedo #29 of the Boston Red Sox poses for a picture during the 2026 Boston Red Sox Photo Day at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 17, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
If you remember correctly, the Red Sox acquired Johan Oviedo in a five-player trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Oviedo has a career 4.29 ERA over 67 total starts in parts of six seasons.
MLBTradeRumors.com’s Steve Adams details why this is an ominous injury alert for the Red Sox, and could be bad news for Oviedo:
“More alarming than the bottom-line results was the pronounced decline in Oviedoâs velocity. Heâs averaged better than 95 mph on his four-seamer in his big league career and sat 94.4 mph this spring as he built up for the season. His fastball averaged 93 mph flat in that outing against Houston. Oviedoâs velocity on all of his pitches was down across the board. Manager Alex Cora said after the game that the team was confident Oviedo was healthy.”
In his one appearance this season, Oviedo went 3.2 innings and gave up four earned runs on six hits. Following the game, he detailed the elbow pain, and is now on the Injured List.
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What Does Johan Oviedo News Mean for Red Sox Bullpen?
It may not be revealing itself just yet, but the Red Sox might have a slight concern in the pitching staff aside from Aroldis Chapman and Garrett Crochet.
Of course, Alex Cora and the rest of the coaching staff are expecting better from Ranger Suarez and Sonny Gray after their poor starts in the first outing of each’s tenure in Boston.
However, if Oviedo does have to undergo TJS, which an inclination can be made that there’s a good chance of that, the Red Sox will be calling on other members of the bullpen group to get the ball in high leverage roles. Hence why Tyler Uberstine is getting a call-up to the majors.
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