SARASOTA, Fla. – Right-hander Bryce Florie, who suffered a broken eye socket last season, will take the mound Thursday for the first time since the injury.

Pitching for the Boston Red Sox, Florie suffered three fractures as well as a severe injury to the right eyeball when he was hit by a line drive off the bat of New York Yankees outfielder Ryan Thompson on Sept. 8.

He underwent a pair of surgeries for the injuries and team doctor Bill Morgan said that "prognosis for reasonable vision was guarded." He is on Boston's disabled list.

Florie, who turned 31 on Monday, will make his first appearance since the injury when he is scheduled to start for the Class A Sarasota Red Sox of the Florida State League on Thursday.

In 29 games out of the bullpen last season, Florie went 0-4 with one save and a 4.56 ERA over 49 1/3 innings.