Boston Red Sox: 4 players attacking 2021 MLB season with vengeance
Boston Red Sox ace Chris Sale aiming for a 2021 return
The Boston Red Sox biggest mid-season acquisition could be the return of a healthy, stronger Chris Sale.
Faced with the first big challenge of his career in overcoming a major injury, the 6-foot-7 flamethrower is determined to get back on that mound and help his team win. After struggling in 2019 as a result of the injury that led to Tommy John surgery, it is the competitor in Sale that the 2021 MLB season should watch out for.
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This is obviously good for the Red Sox who are seeing their ace make good progress during his continued rehabilitation process. But the silver lining in all that Sale has gone through the last year and a half is his mindset and approach to the game. Getting to know his body and how to prepare, attributes that will just make him an even more effective pitcher when he does take the mound again.
"“This was the first real struggle or real hurdle that I’ve had in my career. Big injury. I’ve never missed a year,” Sale said in February, via ESPN.com. “I’ve missed a month. I’ve missed a few weeks here and there. But this was the first big thing that ever happened. I know on the back side of this, my mentality and what I’ve done physically and what I’ve learned about my body and things I need to prepare myself mentally, just having to be tougher.”"
As a May-July return could be a bit aggressive, that toughness Sale is talking about should not be underestimated. If he continues to work hard through the rehabilitation process, fans should prepare to see the lanky strikeout master back sooner rather than later.
If the Red Sox are still sticking around near the top of the division come mid-season, it will make the 2021 MLB season very interesting.