Updated Red Sox notes: Tyler Thornburg faces big test; Cora arranges for Matheny family reunion

FORT MYERS, Fla. – In a spring full of small steps for Tyler Thornburg, Wednesday promises to be a big day.

Thornburg had been expected to be a part of the Red Sox’ bullpen last season after the Sox obtained him in a deal the previous winter from Milwaukee. Instead, he battled shoulder- and neck-related issues all spring until it was determined several months later he needed thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, which sidelined him for the year.

On Wednesday morning, Thornburg will throw his first bullpen session. This past Sunday, he threw about a dozen pitches in an “informal’’ session, his first time off a mound this spring.

“That was a big deal,’’ he said. “I look forward to every progression.’’

When he’s fully healthy and ready, he could be a key piece of the bullpen, sharing the eighth-inning, high-leverage assignments with Carson Smith. As recently as 2016, he appeared in 67 games with the Brewers with a 2.15 ERA and a .940 WHIP.

Thornburg will eventually throw a half-dozen or so bullpens before moving on to some live batting practice sessions, and eventually, he hopes, exhibition games.

“At the same time, we don’t know how quickly I’m going to progress,’’ said Thornburg. “A lot of it is just on-the-fly. I haven’t had any setbacks or anything. It’s just a matter of how quickly your body adjusts (to the workload).’’

Thornburg is still aiming to be ready early in the season, figuring without any setbacks, he’ll have an opportunity to pitch in three or four exhibition games before the roster is set.

“That may be a little ambitious,’’ he allows. “No one knows how sore I’m going to be after (outings), or how I’ll bounce back. Is it going to be a situation where they want me (to open the season), but not go back-to-back for a while? Or would they want me staying down (in Florida) for an extra week, throwing to make sure I’m full go? I’d say a lot of that is up in the air. And a lot will be based on how I look in games, too.’’

****************

It’s a good thing for the Matheny family that Alex Cora doesn’t hold a grudge.

In the spring of 2012, Mike Matheny was the rookie manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, and the first player he ever cut was Cora, who was then winding down his career.

On Tuesday, in the Red Sox' 6-1 loss to the Cardinals, Cora showed that there were no hard feelings.

Matheny’s son, Tate, is an outfield prospect in the Red Sox system. Knowing the Cardinals were in town, Cora made sure to get Tate into the game against his dad. Even better, he had Tate take out the lineup card to home plate, where he met Mike.

“It was pretty fun,’’ said Tate Matheny. “It was a really cool experience. Obviously, not a lot of people get to exchange lineup cards with their dad before the game. It was a pretty cool thing for the both of us.’’

Matheny got into the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh and walked in his only plate appearance.

“Getting to play against my dad, it’s pretty rare that anyone gets to do that, especially at this level,’’ said Tate.

Matheny made his major league spring training debut last spring against the Cardinals, with then-manager John Farrell also going out of his way to facilitate a family reunion.

“It was a little more nerve-wracking last year,’’ said Tate. “I was a little more relaxed this year because I’ve had a few more ABs since. But it’s still really fun.’’

On the field, Tate Matheny was able to get a picture taken with his own 8-month-old son Ryker, and his father, representing three generations. In the stands were Tate’s wife, mom and grandparents.

And there’s more family fun to come: when the Sox travel to Jupiter, Fla. on Friday to play the Cards again, Tate will be the Red Sox’ DH and hit leadoff.

****************

After losing their first game of the spring to the Cardinals, the Red Sox bounced back with a split-squad victory over the Minnesota Twins at Hammond Stadium.

Sam Travis snapped a 2-2 tie in the top of the ninth with an opposite-field double, scoring Kyri Washington.

Travis, who had been viewed as the heir apparent at first only two seasons ago, now finds himself blocked at first base following a disappointing 2017 season during which he failed to show much power, with a .375 slugging percentage in 82 games.

"He's had good at-bats during the first few games,'' said Cora. "He's staying on the fastball...We're happy with his at-bats. It's just like Blake (Swihart) - let him play. Let him play and get his at-bats and have fun with it.''

Cora said the team hasn't necessary been asking for more power from Travis.

"I think the point of emphasis around the club has been 'get a good pitch and drive it,' ''  Cora said. "You're not going to hit the ball solid when you're swinging at marginal strikes. We want them to be aggressive in the strike zone, get pitches in the strike zone and drive them.''