Paxton (elbow) was removed midway through the first inning of his first rehab start Thursday in the rookie-level Florida Complex League after experiencing lat tightness, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

EDGE Analysis

Pitching in a competitive game for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery in April of 2021, Paxton retired the two batters he faced before exiting the contest on account of another injury. Even if follow-up tests clear Paxton of a lat strain or a more serious injury, he's still likely to be shut down from throwing for at least a few days. The Red Sox already weren't counting on Paxton being ready to return from the 60-day injured list until early September, and the lat issue will likely push his potential season debut back further, if it even happens at all.