“Humpty Dumpty is back”

Chris Sale is cautiously optimistic about his health going into the 2023 season, originally appearing on NBC Sports Boston

While Chris Sale has spent the past three years enough not to get too excited, the Boston Red Sox ace is cautiously optimistic about his health heading into the 2023 season.

Sale missed most of 2020 and 2021 after undergoing Tommy John surgery, and the first three months of the 2022 campaign with a broken rib. He only made two starts last season before a comeback player broke his left pinky finger, then broke his right wrist in a cycling accident and missed the rest of the season.

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The 33-year-old doesn’t want to jinx himself, but shared an encouraging update on his status.

“Humpty Dumpty is back,” Sale told reporters at the Red Sox Winter Weekend.

“But seriously[I’m]feeling good. I started playing catch, which I always do in the offseason. I’ve been playing long toss for a little bit. I got off the mound before I got here. Now we are where we need to be, don’t shout.”

The Red Sox pitcher and catcher are scheduled to arrive in Fort Myers, Fla., for spring training on February 15.

“I am very excited to move forward,” Sale said. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had an exciting spring training. I’m so grateful for that. Just hold it tight and try to run with it.

“I keep myself in really good shape,” he added.

A healthy sale at the top of rotation will be a game changer for Boston in 2023. Unsurprisingly, the veteran southpaw has only appeared in 12 games since his 2019, so not many expected it to come to fruition.

Sale knows he has a lot to prove.

“I owe these people something,” he said. “I owe the starting pitchers my teammates thought they were going to get. I owe the front office the starting pitchers they paid for.” I owe you.”