Verdugo went 3-for-4 with a run scored in Saturday's 7-2 loss to the Orioles.

EDGE Analysis

Verdugo made his debut for Boston after he was held out of Friday's opener due to Baltimore starting a left-hander. He's not expected to sit against every lefty, but manager Ron Roenicke wants to get Kevin Pillar in the lineup against southpaws, so Verdugo or Jackie Bradley or Andrew Benintendi could sit on those occasions. Verdugo made his case for an everyday lineup spot Saturday, compiling three singles and running the bases with abandon, going from first to third on a single and taking second on a wild pitch.

Verdugo isn't in the lineup for Friday's season opener against the Orioles, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 24-year-old's starting debut in Boston won't come on Opening Day with left-hander Tommy Milone taking the mound for Baltimore. Kevin Pillar receives the start in right field for the Red Sox. Righty Alex Cobb is poised to pitch for the Orioles in the second game of the series, so Verdugo should be in Saturday's lineup.

Verdugo was allowed to step into the batter's box for Saturday's simulated game, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Verdugo wasn't scheduled to bat against Nathan Eovaldi, one of the hardest throwers in the majors, but he asked to face him and manager Ron Roenicke obliged. The outfielder saw it as a way to test the stress fracture in his back that limited him during spring training and threatened his availability for the start of the regular season before the pandemic put a temporary halt to the 2020 season. "I took a full swing, I swung and missed and had no pain, no discomfort," Verdugo said. "That was really reassuring. That's really what this is about. It's just to get my timing back and to reassure that my body, physically everything, is handling the progression." Verdugo is expected to be ready to roll when the season opens up in three weeks.

Verdugo (back) said Monday that he feels "100 percent" physically and relayed that he has resumed hitting at the Red Sox's spring training facility in Florida, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports. "Whenever the season starts, I'll be ready," Verdugo said.

EDGE Analysis

Before the Red Sox acquired him from Los Angeles in February, Verdugo had been limited during the offseason by an oblique injury he suffered last August, but it was a stress fracture in his back that kept him sidelined throughout spring training. The back issue looked like it would force him to the injured list to begin the season, but the MLB's ongoing hiatus has since afforded him sufficient recovery time. Whenever the Red Sox are cleared to resume full-squad workouts, Verdugo's activity may be monitored carefully, but assuming he avoids any further setbacks, he should get the green light to play when the season begins. A healthy Verdugo should fill at least the strong side of a platoon in the outfield, with Kevin Pillar likely moving into a fourth-outfielder role as a result.

Red Sox interim manager Ron Roenicke said Tuesday that Verdugo (back) has not been able to progress as quickly as the team hoped because of the shutdown, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

EDGE Analysis

Two weeks ago, general manager Chaim Bloom addressed the media and said Verdugo was "coming along well" in his recovery from a stress fracture in his back. It sounds like Roenicke's tune was slightly different; Verdugo has been swinging but apparently it has been difficult for him to do all of the rehab work from home. While it's a bit disconcerting how long this issue has been lingering, Verdugo could still end up being ready for games whenever play resumes.

Red Sox general manager Chaim Bloom said Monday that Verdugo is "coming along well" in his recovery from a stress fracture in his back, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.

EDGE Analysis

Verdugo had resumed swinging prior to the league-wide shutdown, though he wasn't expected to be ready to play by Opening Day. He still doesn't have a concrete timetable, and Bloom's update doesn't add a ton of clarity to the outfielder's situation, but the delayed season presumably gives Verdugo a shot to not miss any time. A more precise timeline for the Red Sox's new right fielder should emerge once teams are able to resume baseball activities.

Verdugo (back) took 20 swings in a batting cage Monday and took part in on-field agility drills, Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe reports.

EDGE Analysis

The young outfielder has been battling a stress fracture in his back. He hasn't officially been ruled out for Opening Day, but time is getting quite short for him to build up to game shape with just over two weeks until the season starts. The fact that he was able to resume baseball activities suggests he shouldn't miss too much time to start the year.

Verdugo (back) is still not ready to swing a bat, Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Red Sox were hopeful Verdugo would begin swinging this past week, but the back injury continues to delay the outfielder. "We're just not there yet," interim manager Ron Roenicke said. When camp started, it was presumed Verdugo's availability for Opening Day was iffy. Now, the question is how long into the regular season the Red Sox will be without their presumptive starting right fielder.

Verdugo (back) could begin taking swings sometime this week, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 23-year-old has reportedly been making good progress in his rehab work, but not swinging a bat has remained a hurdle for his return from a strained oblique and stress fracture in his back. Interim manager Ron Roenicke previously indicated Verdugo could be ready for Grapefruit League games in mid-March, and swinging a bat this week would be a significant step in that projection becoming reality.

Interim manager Ron Roenicke said Tuesday that Verdugo (back/oblique) is "coming along well" in the rehab process and could be ready to play in Grapefruit League games by mid-March, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

EDGE Analysis

The skipper noted that Verdugo still hasn't swung a bat this spring, so he'll have to clear that hurdle -- among several others in his rehab from a stress fracture in his back and a strained oblique -- before his availability for game action can be considered imminent. Roenicke's comments at least suggest that Verdugo hasn't been ruled out for Opening Day, though at this stage, the outfielder seems more likely to begin the campaign on the 10-day injured list.