FORT MYERS, Fla. — It was Koji Uehara’s first appearance in a game since Aug. 7, when a line drive fractured his right wrist and ended his 2015 season.

It also ended his time as the Red Sox’ closer, as the team, unsure of whether Uehara would bounce back from the injury, sent a gaggle of secondary prospects to San Diego and acquired Craig Kimbrel.

That leaves Uehara in a setup role. So now with Junichi Tazawa and Carson Smith pitching the sixth and seventh innings, Uehara the eighth, and Kimbrel the ninth, the Red Sox feel they’ve assembled an uber bullpen that can shorten the game much like the Royals and Yankees do.

While Uehara allowed a run and three hits with two strikeouts in the sixth inning of Saturday’s 11-8 loss to the Marlins, neither the pitcher nor the manager was upset with the results.

“I think Koji’s first action since August was as anticipated,’’ John Farrell said. “They executed a hit-and-run, a couple of ground balls found some holes, but I thought he showed some decent action to his split and with each added appearance there’ll be additional arm strength and action to his fastball.’’

Uehara, a happy-go-lucky sort, completely understood the acquisition of Kimbrel. In his career, Uehara’s been about as good a setup man as he has been a closer, and when asked about the difference, he said, “None.’’

And you certainly believe him.

Over Uehara’s next few outings, we’d like to see a few questions answered. Is his arm action the same? Is his grip the same on his splitter? Has the injury affected anything?

“I feel great that I was able to get out on the mound and come off the field healthy,’’ Uehara said through his translator. “Right now I don’t feel any difference, but since it’s the first outing after a long while I can’t really tell if there was a difference.’’

But deep down he must know whether there’s a difference. After all, the spin rate on his splitter has to be up to his previous standards in order to get so many swings and misses on an 88-89-mile-per-hour pitch.

“My out-pitch is the split and I wanted to make sure I could throw it and that’s what I did,’’ Uehara said.

Uehara seems genuinely excited about the Red Sox bullpen.

“I feel that we have a luxury but I need to be on the team to be a part of that so I’m going to try to earn my spot,’’ he said.

When asked whether he’s followed Kimbrel’s career, Uehara said, “He’s probably the only guy who has a shot getting [Mariano Rivera’s saves] record, so that speaks a lot about him.’’

Uehara turns 41 on April 3. As long a he can spin two versions of his splitter and make batters miss, he could probably last a while longer.

The Red Sox were able to use Uehara, Kimbrel, and Tazawa against the Marlins. Smith likely would have pitched as well, but he’s been slowed by back spasms.

Kimbrel needs all of spring training to build up to the season. His velocity rises, his curveball gets sharper, and before you know it, he’s Craig Kimbrel. Right now his fastball is ahead of everything else. He didn’t pitch a clean inning, as he hit Derek Dietrich, but he did have a strikeout.

“And we know with power pitchers, they’re not going to be built up with their velocity until the season begins,’’ Farrell said. “And whether it’s a one-inning guy or a starter, it takes time for that arm strength to build. But he feels like with his fastball he’s getting a pretty good release point. His breaking ball’s still yet to come. But pretty exciting to see upper 90s and the swing-and-miss ability with him.’’

Farrell said he’d like to get six to eight more appearances out of Uehara this spring, while Uehara thinks he can be ready for the season in “five or six.’’ The Red Sox have tried to take it slow with Uehara because of the injury and his age.

Uehara, who is in outstanding shape, feels the entire bullpen should be exciting once the season begins.

Tazawa was shut down in September because of arm fatigue, but said that he’s come back with renewed energy and feels like he did a couple of years ago when he was one of the top setup men in the game.

Tazawa has proven to the Red Sox and to himself that he is not a closer. He doesn’t want to be. So if something happens to Uehara and Kimbrel, that role would likely fall to Smith, who was acquired from Seattle in the Wade Miley deal.

So we’ll find out in due time whether the Red Sox’ best-laid plans for their bullpen work out. Uehara is a big part of that plan.

Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickcafardo.