How Long Is Sonny Gray Out? Injury Timeline, Possible Return, Updates on Red Sox Pitcher originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

After being placed on the 15-day injured list with a hamstring injury, Sonny Gray may be nearing a return.

Since Gray's last start on April 20, the Red Sox fired manager Alex Cora and five other coaches, handing managerial duties to Chad Tracy. With the pitching staff currently ranking in the bottom half of the league in ERA, getting Gray back is a top priority for Tracy, who is trying to guide Boston through a difficult stretch.

Here are the latest updates on Gray's rehab process and his projected return date.

Gray left the Patriots' Day game against the Tigers in the third inning after throwing just 40 pitches. He was later placed on the 15-day IL with a right hamstring strain.

"I can honestly say it doesn't feel like it's a horrible thing," Gray said after suffering the injury. "It's just something that's going to take however long it's going to take to get right. I don't know what that is right now."

Sonny Gray left his start with an injury in the third inning pic.twitter.com/UicnwehDDy

— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) April 20, 2026

Gray threw a bullpen session on April 27, according to MassLive's Christopher Smith, keeping him on track to return in early May.

"Everything went really well," Tracy said. "And the next step would be probably when we get home in Fenway sometime to throw another bullpen with more volume."

Gray is eligible to return as early as May 6, barring any setbacks in his recovery.

The 36-year-old has dealt with hamstring issues throughout his career, but he didn't seem to be worried about this particular injury.

"I've dealt with it for a while, just managed it," Gray said. "It's just something I'm always having to monitor since the first time it happened. I'm not concerned for a long-term thing. Having familiarity with it is a good thing. ... It doesn't feel as bad as it has other times where I have missed time."

In Gray's absence, the Red Sox have relied primarily on four pitchers: Brayan Bello, Garrett Crochet, Connelly Early and Ranger Suarez. Payton Tolle has stepped into the rotation with Gray out, allowing six hits and four earned runs across two starts with 15 strikeouts and five walks.

Boston isn't expected to alter the rotation before Gray returns, but when he does come off the injured list, Tracy will have to make a difficult decision. Tracy could simply remove Tolle, but if Bello continues to struggle, he could be the odd man out.