The last we heard from Bobby Jenks in mid-September, he was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism, a condition which involves a sudden blockage of an artery in the lung.
According to Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald, new Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington said yesterday that Jenks is “making progress” in his treatments. While the condition wasn’t considered career-threatening, Jenks was put on blood thinners after the diagnosis, delaying surgery to address a back injury which kept him sidelined for most of the season.
The current plan calls for Jenks to be reevaluated in December. The 30-year-old right-hander could be cleared for back surgery if all goes well, but his status for the early part of 2012 remains in doubt.
Jenks, who signed a two-year, $12 million contract with the Red Sox last December, posted a 6.32 ERA and 17/13 K/BB ratio over 15 2/3 innings this season.