Vaughn Grissom has yet to play a game in a Red Sox uniform. Acquired this past winter in exchange for left-hander Chris Sale, the 23-year-old second baseman missed all of spring training due to groin and hamstring injuries and for the past two weeks has been on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester trying to get ready for the season.

Now it appears his debut could be imminent.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Grissom is scheduled to play nine innings with the WooSox in Toledo on Saturday and Sunday, and if all goes well he could join the big league club soon after.

“This is the last hurdle probably,” Cora said. “He’s feeling good, took off a few times to steal bases, which means he’s feeling great, playing good defense, putting in some good at bats. … It feels like he’s getting close.”

Grissom’s rehab assignment began on April 12, and by rule rehab assignments can last up to 20 days before the player must either be activated or shut down again, so the club must make a decision either way by next Wednesday. Barring any setbacks, Grissom will most likely make his Red Sox debut on Tuesday for the series opener against the San Francisco Giants at Fenway Park.

Starters making progress

Cora said right-hander Nick Pivetta (right elbow flexor strain) is scheduled to throw a 50-pitch live batting practice session on Saturday and could begin a rehab assignment next week. Right-hander Garrett Whitlock (left oblique strain) is playing catch but not on the mound yet, and right-hander Brayan Bello (right lat tightness) is progressing and feeling better as well.

He added that right-hander Isaiah Campbell (right shoulder impingement) is playing catch up to 90 feet, and infielder Romy Gonzalez (left wrist sprain) had a cortisone shot and is feeling much better than he was a couple of days ago. Cora had no update on right-hander Bryan Mata (right hamstring strain), who is in Fort Myers working out.

Sox sign indy arm

The Red Sox bolstered their minor league pitching depth on Friday, signing veteran right-hander Sal Romano to a minor league contract out of indy ball and assigning him to Triple-A Worcester. A 30-year-old from Southington, Connecticut, Romano pitched five seasons in the majors between 2017-21, primarily with the Cincinnati Reds, and posted a 5.23 ERA in 88 MLB appearances (41 starts). The 6-foot-5, 255-pounder retired in March 2022 but subsequently resumed his career, most recently pitching for the Gastonia Honey Hunters of the Independent Atlantic League.