Oft injured Red Sox right-hander experiences another setback

Red Sox right-hander Bryan Mata experienced soreness in his shoulder and lat following Thursday’s rehab outing and will be evaluated in Boston on Saturday, manager Alex Cora announced Friday.

As a result, the hard-throwing righty is expected to be pulled off his rehab assignment, delaying the club’s eventual decision on whether or not he should be added to the active roster or cut loose.

Formerly one of the organization’s top pitching prospects, the 25-year-old has battled injury throughout his professional career and is now out of minor league options, meaning once he’s healthy the club must either add him to the big league roster or make him available to other teams.

Originally signed for $25,000 as an international free agent out of Venezuela in 2016, Mata boasts a blistering high-90s fastball and a filthy slider but to this point hasn’t been able to put it all together. He missed most of 2021 and 2022 after undergoing Tommy John surgery and then nearly all of 2023 as well due to a teres major strain. He has yet to pitch this season too after suffering a right hamstring strain early in spring training, and now the shoulder and lat issue could sideline him once again.

Prior to the setback Mata had appeared in three rehab outings, the most recent being Thursday when he allowed three runs on five hits over three innings for Double-A Portland. Cora said the club will have more information on his status in the coming days.

In addition, Cora also said right-hander Isaiah Campbell (right shoulder impingement) will make his next rehab appearance on Saturday after throwing a scoreless inning with a walk and three strikeouts on Thursday in Worcester. First baseman Triston Casas (left rib strain) began taking ground balls on Friday, and designated hitter Masataka Yoshida (left thumb strain) has not yet begun baseball activities.

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