FORT MYERS, Fla. - Marco Hernandez's surgically repaired shoulder is causing him more trouble.

Hernandez was experiencing discomfort in his left shoulder and returned to Boston to have it examined.

Doctors determined Hernandez needed to have the pins that were inserted into his shoulder last May when he went for surgery needed to be removed.

"It seems like that was it was creating the discomfort," manager Alex Cora said. "Hopefully he can come back sooner rather than later. He was feeling it and at the end, they checked everything and it was the hardware that they have there. He'll be fine."

Cora said he didn't have a timetable for Hernandez's return but will start up baseball activity when he's pain-free.

Hernandez injured the shoulder at the start of last season and had season-ending stabilization surgery in early May.

"He was doing everything fine and he felt weak or he was sore and it was taking longer than usual and at the stage it wasn't supposed to be that way," Cora explained. "We flew him up there and they decided to do it."

Hernandez has options in his contract and was likely to start the season in Triple-A Pawtucket.

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