Lucas Giolito Set for Long-Awaited Red Sox Debut After Nearly Two-Year Layoff
The Boston Red Sox have managed to stay competitive in 2025 despite losing several key pitchers to injury. One of those pitchers, Lucas Giolito, is now preparing to finally make his debut for the team after missing the entire 2024 season. Giolito is expected to start Wednesday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays, according to Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe.
Giolito signed a two-year, $38.5 million contract with the Red Sox during the 2024 offseason, but his debut was delayed by an elbow injury that required surgery. Just as he returned in 2025 Spring Training, a hamstring injury forced another stint on the injured list, extending his absence from Major League play to nearly 16 months.
There’s uncertainty about what Giolito will bring to the mound. His last MLB action came in 2023, when he struggled with a 4.88 ERA while pitching for the White Sox, Angels, and Guardians. That followed a similarly tough 2022 season. However, between 2019 and 2021, Giolito was among the top pitchers in the American League, with a 3.47 ERA over nearly 430 innings.
There are some positive signs heading into his return. Giolito’s latest injury wasn’t arm-related, which may suggest his elbow has fully recovered. Although he showed command issues in a recent rehab outing—walking six batters in under five innings—he still has the chance to rebuild his form. The Red Sox aren’t counting on him to be a savior immediately, which eases some pressure.
Boston’s rotation has held up surprisingly well thanks to strong performances from offseason additions like Garrett Crochet and Walker Buehler, along with solid outings from Brayan Bello and fill-in starter Sean Newcomb. Giolito’s return could further stabilize the staff. He’s already on the 40-man roster, and the most likely roster move to accommodate him would involve sending reliever Luis Guerrero back to Triple-A. Whether Giolito regains his All-Star form or simply becomes a solid contributor, his debut marks a key moment in Boston’s 2025 campaign.
