2/16 Fort Report: Initial Workouts

This morning the Red Sox pitchers and catchers participated in some initial workouts down at the Sox Minor League Complex … The workout was actually televised by NESN, which is believed to be the first time a Red Sox spring training workout has been televised … All team workouts from today through 2/27 will take place at the Minor League Complex … For those of you heading down to Ft. Myers, there’s no parking available at the Minor League Complex through the 27th – until then, fans are advised to take the shuttle from City of Palms Park … According to Terry Francona, all pitchers and catchers arrived on time … On Friday, the team underwent physicals and then rand some shuttles for conditioning … This morning’s workout started with pitchers’ fielding practice (“PFP”), proceeded to initial bullpen sessions, and then finished up with some running and conditioning … Francona and Theo Epstein looked to be paying close attention to the bullpen sessions of top prospects Clay Buchholz, Michael Bowden, and Justin Masterson … Bowden packed on a lot of bulk, after beign placed on a 4,500 calorie-per-day diet during his off-season workouts at API … Edgar Martinez looks like he slimmed down a little bit, perhaps ten pounds or so from last year at this time … Bruce Hurst is back in a Red Sox uniform, working with the young pitchers in an instructor’s role … Luis Tiant is also filling the same role, as he did last year … During the pitchers’ running drills, Julian Tavarez and David Pauley looked to be huffing and puffing a litte bit more than the rest …Kyle Jackson is wearing # 83 for the second year in a row, the highest number in camp … Jed Lowrie reported to camp early this morning … George Kottaras took some BP this morning along with the other catchers, as he looks to follow up on his late successes in 2007 … Epstein had some high praise for catcher Dusty Brown, stating that he can “catch and throw with anyone” … Bobby Kielty is expected to report to camp late, as his wife is expecting in late February … After the morning workout, Buchholz and others took some time to sign autographs for a hoard of fans … The players are expected to take live batting practice for the first time on Wednesday.

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