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Sale ready for 2023 after injuries: 'Humpty Dumpty got put back together'

Boston Globe / Getty

Boston Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale is ready to deliver in 2023 after a string of unlucky injuries limited him to just 11 starts since 2020.

"Humpty Dumpty got put back together," Sale said on Saturday, according to MLB.com's Ian Browne.

Sale missed the entire shortened 2020 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, returning to make nine outings in 2021.

The seven-time All-Star suffered a stress fracture in his rib cage during the lockout of 2022, which kept him out for several months. Upon returning, he broke the pinkie finger on his left hand after being struck by a liner during a start at Yankee Stadium.

Amid his recovery from finger surgery, Sale fractured his wrist during a bicycle accident and was ruled out for the remainder of the campaign.

The 33-year-old, who's been collecting a hefty $30 million annually since 2020, said he's motivated to turn things around this coming season and prove he can still be a valuable contributor for the Red Sox.

"I'm more motivated for my teammates, my coaching staff, for the organization, for the fans," said Sale. "You know, I owe these people something. I owe everybody. I owe my teammates the starting pitcher they thought they were going to get. I owe the front office the starting pitcher they paid for, and I owe the fans the performances that they're paying to come and see."

Sale is projected to be the ace of Boston's starting rotation this season alongside Corey Kluber, Nick Pivetta, James Paxton, and Garrett Whitlock.

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