BOSTON - Carson Smith hasn't pitched in 10 days and has taken a step back from his progress toward a rehab assignment.
Smith threw to batters in Philadelphia, but experienced shoulder muscle soreness and returned to Boston to be checked by team doctors. The Red Sox implied it was general soreness related to Smith ramping up activity.
But Smith hasn't thrown since June 15 and is in the middle of a no-throw program through the weekend. He'll be reevaluated on Monday with the hope of initiating a throwing program.
Smith, who had Tommy John surgery last May, was originally slated to return to the Red Sox bullpen by mid-June, but now that timetable has been pushed back.
"We have not closed the book in a sense on anything Carson can contribute this year," manager John Farrell said.
"We thought he was days from starting his rehab assignment after his last live BP," Farrell added. "Unfortunately that was put on hold for the time being. To get into any kind of timeframes, timetables, I don't know that any of us can predict that right now."
At this rate, Smith likely won't be ready until at least the All-Star break.
"I think Carson still has a chance to come back and help us this year," Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said.
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