As MLB spring training winds down, now is a good time for Boston Red Sox fans to check in on what some of the franchise's former players are up to.
One ex-Red Sox player who still holds a special spot in the fanbase's heart is none other than Chris Sale. Although his time in Boston was marred by injuries, the veteran left-handed hurler still dazzled fans for the better part of seven years, which featured two MLB All-Star nods and, most importantly, winning the 2018 World Series.
Sale's Red Sox tenure ended when he was traded to the Atlanta Braves in December 2023, only for him to rediscover his magic by going on to win the 2024 NL Cy Young award. While it's been well over a year since he last pitched for Boston, the 35-year-old southpaw's latest decision highlights that Beantown still has a special place in his heart.
Red Sox News: Chris Sale Pays Tribute to Luis Tiante in Spring Training
The Red Sox were reunited with Sale during Saturday's 7-3 loss to the Braves. The eight-time MLB All-Star received the start for the spring training game and used the opportunity to pay tribute to former Boston legend Luis "El Tiante" Tiant.
Tiant was known for his iconic, over-the-head windup that included turning his back to the batter, and that's exactly what Sale channeled with his first pitch of the day (h/t @Jared_Carrabis).
Chris Sale doing a tribute to El Tiante is very, very cool. One Red Sox legend showing love to another Red Sox legend. pic.twitter.com/Vmg55E27UU
— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) March 15, 2025
After the game, Sale revealed to MLB.com's Ian Browne that the Tiant tribute had been in the works for quite some time. The 35-year-old veteran said that he talked about the decision with his wife and Triple-A pitching coach Craig Bjornson before hinting to his teammates that he had "something up my sleeve."
"I had kind of had this start circled for a little bit. Just who Luis was to me and what he meant to me, not only in baseball but just in my life," Sale said. "He was one of my favorite people. Any time he came into the clubhouse, he was one of those larger-than-life characters, and he was a special person."
Tiant, unfortunately, passed away at the age of 83 in October. The two-time American League ERA leader spent 19 seasons in the Majors (including eight with the Red Sox), going 229-172 with a 3.30 ERA across 573 appearances (484 starts), picking up three All-Star nods along the way.
Having said that, Tiant likely would've loved Sale's perfect tribute. The pair had their fair share of pitching-related discussions in the past, including when the Red Sox Hall of Famer helped the younger hurler through some struggles.
"I remember I was going through a tough time just trying to find mechanics. My stuff wasn’t what I wanted," Sale said. "I bet we probably sat there and talked for 20 or 30 minutes in the training room about baseball, about mentality, about just a lot of things."
Paying tribute to any sports legend isn't easy — especially if it's to someone like Tiant, who made an unforgettable impact in Boston. Fortunately, Sale was the perfect man for the job and gave Red Sox fans a moment they'll never forget (even if the game ended in a loss).