2/14 Fort Report: Pitchers & Catchers

Its February 14, and pitchers ad catchers are officially reporting for duty today. SoxProspects will be following the Red Sox closely this spring, and we hope to bring you regular updates on the prospects' participation at big league camp as well as notes from minor league spring training. Several staff members and other community contributors will be heading down to Ft. Myers this February & March, so we should be able to bring you updates several times per week. Many of these updates will be in "notes" style to keep our readers generally aware of whats going on down on both ends of Edison Avenue. Here's the first of hopefully many "Fort Reports":

Today is the first official reporting day for pitchers and catchers ... Position players are required to report on 2/ 20, the first full-squad workout will be 2/22, and the first game will be on 2/28 ... Many of the minor leaguers are slated to arrive on 2/20 ... Among those players who reported early: Daniel Haigwood, Ryne Lawson, Hunter Jones, Chris Jones, Ryan Colvin, Jeff Natale, David Marks, Chris Carter, Jeff Corsaletti, Chad Spann, Craig Breslow, Michael Bowden, Justin Masterson, Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Clay Buchholz, Jon Lester and Manny Delcarmen ... Both Lester and Buchholz packed on ten pounds of muscle over the off-season ... Among the non-roster pitchers and catchers who will be initially participating at big league camp: Bowden, Lee Grokiewicz, H. Jones, Dan Kolb, Masterson, Jon Switzer, Michael Tejera, and Kevin Cash ... 2006 27th round draft pick Brantley New retired from baseball before reportrting to camp ... Amalie Benjamin reports that Delcarmen should get some save opportunities this year when Jonathan Papelbon needs a rest ... As previously reported this winter, Craig Hansen underwent successful surgery to correct a sleep apnea disorder, which was interrupting his sleep on average of fifty-six time per hour, previously only letting him get two hours of sleep per night ... While its been rumored that uber-athlete Buchholz may be just as fast as much speedster Jacoby Ellsbury, Buchholz has been warned by the club that he will be fined if he attempts to prove it by actually racing Ellsbury - alas, the truth may never be told ... While Breslow hopes to break camp with the big league club, another of his goals may be to showcase himself to other organizations, as he's out of options and he'd prefer not to spend another year at AAA on a minor league contract ... Rumor is that the Sox will carry twelve pitchers to start the season ... Look for Julian Tavarez, Kyle Snyder, David Pauley, Devern Hansack, and Buchholz to compete for the 5th starter spot for April and May, and regardless of that outcome we expect the the reigns to be handed over to Buchholz full time by Memorial Day ... Papelbon, Curt Schilling, and Kevin Youkilis arrived at camp this morning.

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