“Mentally, where I’m at, I feel I’m able to connect with a lot of people, the Boston fans,” Whitlock said Saturday before the Sox lost to the Brewers, 6-3, at Fenway Park. “Boston is a city built on resilience. It’s a city built on determination and hard work. I feel like I’m really starting to connect with them.”
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Whitlock had on a T-shirt saying “Ain’t Found A Way to Kill Me Yet” given to him by Sox vice president of sports medicine and performance Brad Pearson.
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“There’s a reason I’m wearing the shirt,” Whitlock said. “Just because I’m dealt another blow, it’s about how you get back up and fight.”
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Whitlock believes he will come back stronger. In the meantime, he plans to do more work with The Jimmy Fund and helping out his teammates.
“He’s a man of faith,” manager Alex Cora said. “We talked about it. Sometimes we get frustrated, we question what’s the plan. He doesn’t get to that point. He’s been great for us … a leader in every aspect.”
Dugas performed Tommy John surgery on Whitlock in 2019 when he was a Yankees prospect. Based on a recent MRI, the expectation is that Whitlock will have this latest tear repaired with an internal brace procedure.
That should allow him to pitch next season.
“I feel like I’ll be ready for ‘25,” Whitlock said. “I’m looking to attack this thing head-on.”
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Whitlock now lives in Fort Myers, Fla. But he once lived less than a mile from the Andrews Institute in Birmingham. It’s close to Alabama-Birmingham, where he played college ball.
The 27-year-old and his wife, Jordan, are expecting their first child in early July. The surgery will allow him to spend more time with his wife and son.
“Now I know I’m going to be there to hold my son in my arms,” he said. “There’s nothing else that can replicate that.”
Injured Mata in for a look
Bryan Mata first signed with the Red Sox in 2016 and has been on the 40-man roster since 2020. But the righthander has never pitched for the major league team because of injuries.
He won’t be changing any time soon. Mata is on the minor league injured list with lat soreness after appearing in only three games. The 25-year-old was at Fenway on Saturday to get checked out.
“It’s been really tough dealing with all these weird injuries that have been happening to me,” Mata said via a translator. “All I can control is working hard like I have been. That’s something that’s out of my control.”
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Mata said he felt “great” while he was pitching. But after his last appearance he felt soreness in the lat muscle.
“I’m confident in my abilities and the talent that I have,” Mata said. “I think I can be a capable big league pitcher in whatever role they want to give me.”
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Reyes sent to Mets for cash
The Sox sold Triple A infielder Pablo Reyes to the Mets. Reyes, 30, hit .260 with a .647 OPS over 85 major league games the last two seasons. He was designated for assignment April 29 and had since played five games for Worcester … Brewers first base coach Quintin Berry was a World Series champion with the Red Sox in 2013. Berry was acquired from the Royals on Aug. 27 and played in 12 games in September. He was used as a pinch runner three times in the postseason, stealing second base each time. He replaced David Ortiz twice and Daniel Nava once … University of South Carolina infielder Gavin Casas, Triston’s brother, broke the hamate bone in his right hand during an SEC Tournament game Friday and could miss the rest of the season. The senior is hitting .260 with 10 homers and 35 RBIs in 58 games … The Red Sox are 7-18 when the opposing team scores first … The game drew a crowd of 34,822. Other than the home opener, the Sox have not had a sellout this season … Reliever Isaiah Campbell pitched a scoreless inning for Worcester in his second rehabilitation appearance. The righthander allowed one hit and struck out one, throwing 9 of 14 pitches for strikes. Campbell has been on the injured list since April 12 with a shoulder impingement.
Peter Abraham can be reached at peter.abraham@globe.com. Follow him @PeteAbe.
