BALTIMORE — Eduardo Rodriguez has not pitched in a major league game in just over eight months. That finally ends Tuesday when he comes off the disabled list to face the Baltimore Orioles.

“It feels like longer than that,’’ Rodriguez said Monday. “I’ve been waiting a long time.’’

The 23-year-old lefthander wrenched his right knee during a spring training workout Feb.?29, his kneecap briefly dislocating. The Sox said at the time that Rodriguez would miss only a few days.

That stretched into a week, then several months. Rodriguez made five rehabilitation starts with Triple A Pawtucket and at one point had his assignment stopped because of lingering pain in his knee.

A brace finally allowed Rodriguez to push off his leg with the needed strength to get his fastball consistently in the low 90s.

“I’ll wear it all season if I have to. It feels comfortable,’’ Rodriguez said.

Manager John Farrell feels there’s room for improvement with the velocity given that Rodriguez averaged 94 with his fastball last season.

“[It’s] not all the way, but it’s closer. He has a full assortment of pitches to attack with,’’ Farrell said.

For Rodriguez, the toughest part has been watching the Red Sox move into first place in the American League East without being able to help.

“You want to be part of the team when they’re playing like that,’’ Rodriguez said. “I’ve been around but I’m not really around, you know? It’s hard just watching.’’

Rodriguez could be a significant addition to the rotation. He was 10-6 with a 3.85 earned run average in 21 starts last season. The Sox have three reliable starters in David Price, Rick Porcello, and Steven Wright. But the rotation beyond that trio has been shaky.

“He makes us a more well-rounded team,’’ Farrell said.

Rodriguez faced Baltimore three times last season and allowed seven earned runs over 15 innings.

Travis injured

Well-regarded Triple A first baseman Sam Travis will miss the remainder of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Surgery is expected in the coming days.

Travis is expected to be ready for next season. But the injury will surely impact short-term planning for the Red Sox, who saw Travis as a candidate to play first base next season if Hanley Ramirez becomes the DH. Travis also could have been a valuable trade chip this season.

Travis, 22, was injured Sunday while trying to apply a tag on a rundown play against Indianapolis. He was hitting .272 for Pawtucket with six homers and 10 doubles in 47 games.

Travis, a second-round pick out of Indiana in 2014, moved quickly through the system and was particularly impressive in major league spring training.

Travis’s good friend and college teammate, Cubs outfielder and catcher Kyle Schwarber, had the same injury April 7.

Hernandez gets one

To give Ramirez a day off, Travis Shaw moved to first base and Marco Hernandez played third. Hernandez, a 23-year rookie, had his first major league home run in the eighth inning, a three-run shot to right-center.

“It was amazing hitting my first home run,’’ Hernandez said. “David [Ortiz] gave me a tip. He said trust your hands and go out there with a plan.’’

Hernandez was able to get the ball as a souvenir. An Orioles fan caught the ball and traded it for a Manny Machado autographed ball and two tickets to another game.

Homer happy

As for Ortiz, who has 517 career homers, he has connected in three consecutive games. Big Papi is 14 of 28 in his last seven games with seven doubles, four homers, and 13 RBIs.

Ortiz missed Sunday’s game at Toronto with a sore left foot, the result of a being hit by a pitch Saturday. He had been hit in the same spot by a foul ball a few days prior to that.

“I felt pretty good when I left the park [Saturday], but that night I had a lot of trouble sleeping,’’ Ortiz said. “I couldn’t get comfortable. I got a lot of treatment, but I couldn’t run.’’

Ortiz arrived at the park early Monday and soon after informed Farrell he could play.

Hembree optioned

To make room for Rodriguez on the roster, the Red Sox optioned righthanded reliever Heath Hembree to Pawtucket. Hembree had a 2.14 ERA in 12 appearances. But after striking out 11 of the first 29 batters he faced, Hembree fanned only seven of the next 63 . . . Brock Holt, who is on the concussion disabled list, took some grounders at shortstop before the game and hit off a tee. Holt has started baseball activities, another step closer to coming back. How he reacts to the increase in activity will determine what comes next . . . Jackie Bradley Jr. hit fifth for the first time in his career and had a solo home run in the sixth inning . . . The teams wore special uniforms for Memorial Day. The caps, numbers, logos, and belts were in a digital camouflage pattern . . . Pitching prospect Michael Kopech, who broke his right hand punching a teammate in spring training, appeared in an extended spring training game for the first time and went two scoreless innings, striking out two. His fastball hit 99 miles per hour. Kopech, 20, was suspended for 50 games last season for using amphetamines. In time, the Sox plan to assign him to a minor league team.

Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeteAbe.