Red Sox’ Nick Pivetta on the mend following recent bout with COVID-19

Red Sox right-hander Nick Pivetta is on the mend following a recent bout with COVID-19, according to MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo.

As was first reported by Jamie Gatlin of Beyond the Monster from the back fields of Fenway South on Friday morning, Pivetta “left workouts earlier today with a trainer. He threw a pitch and then crouched down before a trainer came over.”

After that, Pivetta “did not join the other 12 pitchers in his assigned group for pitchers’ fielding practice,” per Cotillo. He was, however, present for Corey Kluber’s bullpen session.

When speaking with reporters (including Cotillo) on Friday, Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that Pivetta had COVID-19 “not too long ago” and that he is “just building back.”

Pivetta, who has been seen wearing a mask around the team’s complex in Fort Myers recently, is still expected to be ready for Opening Day next month. The 30-year-old hurler is also slated to pitch for Team Canada in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

While Pivetta’s status for Opening Day is not yet in question, his bout with COVID-19 could put him behind other pitchers at camp who are also competing for a spot in Boston’s starting rotation. In addition to Pivetta, fellow righty Brayan Bello has been shut down from throwing for the next few days due to forearm soreness.

Pivetta is coming off a 2022 season in which he led the Red Sox in both games started (33) and innings pitched (179 2/3). He went 10-12 with a 4.56 ERA and 4.42 FIP while recording 175 strikeouts to 73 walks.