Red Sox right-hander Liam Hendriks will begin a rehab assignment this week, manager Alex Cora announced prior to Wednesday’s game.

According to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo, Hendriks is pitching Thursday in Worcester.

Hendriks has been on the IL since Opening Day with right elbow inflammation, which the reliever said stemmed from a compressed nerve that had been bothering him for some time. Hendriks received a cortisone shot and was told by doctors that his surgically repaired elbow is still structurally sound, so the expectation is he shouldn’t need much time before he’s ready to rejoin the Red Sox bullpen.

Once he returns, the Red Sox hope Hendriks will provide an additional high-leverage bullpen arm who can contribute in the later innings. Prior to his arrival in Boston Hendriks was a three-time All-Star who ranked among the game’s top closers between 2019-22, but he has only appeared in five games since the start of the 2023 season due to his battle with cancer and subsequent Tommy John surgery.

Other Red Sox arms are making progress as well.

Right-hander Lucas Giolito (left hamstring strain) is scheduled to pitch in the second game of Triple-A Worcester’s Wednesday’s doubleheader, and right-hander Brayan Bello (right shoulder inflammation) is slated to make his next rehab start for the WooSox on Friday.

Both pitchers are expected to need additional outings before they’re ready to return to the big league rotation.

“It’s kind of spring training, they need the innings, so we’ll be patient,” Cora said. “I know they’re feeling well but we have to make sure they’re ready to go when they come here.”

Cora also said right-hander Kutter Crawford (right patellar soreness) hasn’t started facing live hitters yet but is throwing bullpens and trending in the right direction, and Masataka Yoshida (right shoulder labrum rehab) is currently at 80% in his throwing progression.