James Paxton is set to pitch in his first game in almost two years.
The veteran southpaw will begin a rehab assignment with the rookie-level Florida Complex League Red Sox on Thursday, according to Alex Speier of The Boston Globe. It will mark his first appearance since he tore his UCL during a start with the Seattle Mariners on April 6, 2021. He underwent Tommy John surgery shortly thereafter.
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Speier reported earlier this month Paxton reached 95 mph with his fastball and "threw his entire pitch mix" during a sim game in Fort Myers, Fla. That's certainly an encouraging sign for a Boston club that signed the 33-year-old this past offseason to a one-year, $10 million deal that includes a two-year, $26 million team option.
Paxton is expected to throw three innings in Thursday's rehab start. Meanwhile, reliever Matt Strahm is likely to return to the big-league bullpen after a successful rehab outing with Triple-A Worcester.