ARLINGTON, Texas — Sunday afternoon Richard Fitts will make his first start of the season, taking the mound at Globe Life Field after earning a spot in the big league rotation out of camp.

It’ll be something of a full circle moment for the young right-hander.

Prior to Saturday’s game, Red Sox manager Alex Cora reflected on how Fitts first caught his attention on the eve of the 2024 season, when the Red Sox played a pair of exhibitions in Texas against the Rangers on their way out to Seattle for Opening Day. Fitts, who at that point had only recently been acquired in the Alex Verdugo trade, started the second of those two games, his first time pitching in something resembling a big league game.

“Yeah, it was an exhibition game but it was on a big field … and he was cool,” Cora said. “His stuff wasn’t great that day, we were talking about the changeup, that was his pitch and all that, it wasn’t a good one and he still went out there and competed.”

Whatever issues Fitts was having with his changeup wouldn’t have been apparent based on the results, as the right-hander posted 3.1 scoreless innings with two hits, a walk and three strikeouts. From there he reported to Triple-A in Worcester and eventually earned himself an extended look in the majors late in the season.

He made the most of that opportunity, posting a 1.74 ERA over 20.2 innings and four starts, including 18.2 consecutive scoreless innings to start his major league career.

“When he came up he did an amazing job, we put him in certain spots against some big teams and he did an outstanding job,” Cora said. “The last one wasn’t great and I think that really pushed him in the offseason like I need to be better, and he did an amazing job. We set the goals and he killed them.”

Though Fitts originally wasn’t expected to contend for a spot in the big league rotation, things changed after Brayan Bello, Lucas Giolito and Kutter Crawford all suffered injuries that would sideline them for the start of the season. With two spots now up for grabs, Fitts separated himself from the other contenders thanks to his improved velocity and impressive overall production.

Now, when he takes the mound at Globe Life Field again, it’ll be in a game that counts.

Cora praises Martin

While the team never reached the playoffs during his tenure in Boston, right-hander Chris Martin should still go down as one of the Red Sox best free agent signings in recent years. The veteran reliever was outstanding in his first year with the club, posting a 1.05 ERA in 55 appearances, and last year he managed a 3.45 ERA in 45 outings despite spending some time on the IL.

Now 38, Martin signed with his hometown Texas Rangers this past offseason, but his former manager had nothing but great things to say about the veteran.

“He’s a guy that I really respect, that I really like,” Cora said. “You have to manage him, you have to be careful with the usage because, he’ll hate this, but he’s older. But when he was on the mound he was great for us, accountable, always finding ways to get better and make the group better. They got a good one over there.”

Cora said the Red Sox made “a good offer” to keep Martin but that when it came time to make a decision the Arlington native couldn’t resist the allure of going home. Still, Cora said Martin left a lasting impact on the Red Sox, particularly on the younger arms he helped mentor.

“He was huge and he was big for (Garrett) Whitlock, for Tanner (Houck), for (Justin) Slaten, he was very important,” Cora said. “We talked to him in the offseason and at the end being at home was what really mattered.”

Injury updates

Giolito (left hamstring strain) threw yesterday in Fort Myers and Cora said his velocity was up and that everything went well. The hope now is that Giolito can make his next start with the WooSox in Jacksonville during their upcoming series this week, and that the right-hander can return to the Red Sox rotation by mid-April.

Cora also reported that Masataka Yoshida (right shoulder labral rehab) took 50 swings on Saturday and that the sore back that had been bothering him isn’t going to be any cause for concern. Yoshida still hasn’t progressed in his throwing program and won’t return to the Red Sox until he’s cleared to play the outfield.

Extra innings

David Hamilton is expected to start again in Sunday’s series finale and Wilyer Abreu will likely get the day off on Monday. … Former Red Sox infielder Mickey Gasper finally got his first career hit on Saturday for the Twins. Gasper went 0 for 18 with the Red Sox following his call-up last fall but made the Twins big league roster out of spring training.