Fort Report: Game time

Today is moving day down in Fort Myers, where the major leaguers pack up their gear from the Player Development Complex and head two-and-a-half miles east on Edison Avenue to City of Palms Park. That's because the Red Sox spring schedule gets underway tomorrow with the annual exhibition games against Boston College and Northeastern University. Top prospect Casey Kelly will take the mound for the Sox in the afternoon game against Northeastern, while Boof Bonser gets the nod in the nightcap against BC. In other spring training news:

• Among the likely minor-leaguers slated to start against Northeastern on Wednesday are Lars Anderson, Darnell McDonald, Che-Hsuan Lin, and Gil Velazquez. Against BC, Bonser will be backed by Tug Hulett, Josh Reddick, and Ryan Kalish.

• Felix Doubront is scheduled to get the start against Tampa Bay in a Saturday split-squad game.

• Minor league camp news should start to pick up soon with the mandatory reporting dates fast approaching and the minor leaguers moving back to the more-accessible Player Development Complex this afternoon.

• Kelly and Jose Iglesias remain the toast of camp, impressing management, teammates, and the media with their polish and maturity.

• WEEI reports that Hulett had a shoulder issue entering camp and had to spend a week strengthening it before he finally began throwing on February 28.

• The Providence Journal notes that Ryan Westmoreland had three wisdom teeth removed late last week. Although he was slowed for a day or so, he is back to fully participating in workouts.

• Apropos of nothing, Dustin Richardson won the long drive contest at the team's charity golf event on Friday, driving the ball over 300 yards.

• Nick Cafardo reported on Sunday that Boston offered lefthander Ron Mahay a minor league deal earlier this spring, which Mahay declined.

• Epstein appeared on NESN this weekend, noting that he was particularly impressed with Anderson and Kalish so far this spring, further indicating that both players are growing into their power well, and that both have matured in their respective offensive approaches this year.

• Peter Abraham of Boston.com noted on Sunday that Epstein recently told him that the team is leaning towards starting Iglesias in A-ball, presumably Salem. If that's the case, don't expect Iglesias to stay in Salem for long. Dating back to 2005, only one player assigned to big league camp with the Sox later broke camp below Double A - Argenis Diaz in 2008. Diaz was promoted to Portland on July 15 that year.

• Abraham also has a report on Michael Bowden, who discussed his goals for 2010 and the idea of pitching out of the big league pen.

• Bonser talked to Alex Speier about his likely role as the long-man out of the Boston bullpen.

• Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com brings us an excellent report on "Camp Tuck", where catchers Victor Martinez, Jason Varitek, Mark Wagner, Dusty Brown, Luis Exposito, and Gustavo Molina will endure six weeks of toughened-up tutelage under Red Sox catching instructor Gary Tuck. Tim Federowicz (pictured) also joined the crew for a few days last week.

• Francona told the media earlier this week that Scott Atchison is one of the guys in direct competition for the team's final bullpen spot. Francona also talked about Junichi Tazawa's struggles with fatigue toward the end of the 2009 season. Dan Barbarisi of the ProJo sat down with Tazawa, who feels confident that he's ready for the grind of a full season in 2010 due to a specialized off-season training program created by the Red Sox staff.

• Dan Hoard brings some first-hand perspective on the lack of power in the PawSox 2009 lineup, and hopes that newly-acquired Brett Harper can fill some of that power void in 2010.

• For those interested in an early preview of the 2010 MLB draft, including the draft order, where the Sox will pick, an early look at the top sixty prospects in the draft, the top draft-eligible players in New England, and the highly-regarded and unsigned former Red Sox draft picks, check out my 2010 Draft Primer on the SoxProspects Forum.

• Similarly, for those interested in following the progress of third baseman Jorge Jimenez, selected from Boston by Houston in December's Rule 5 draft and later traded to Florida, check out the Rule 5 Draft Watch. Barring injury, Jimenez must be offered back to Boston if he doesn't make the Marlins' 25-man roster this spring.
  

Chris Hatfield, Jonathan Singer, John Gray, and Corey Hersch of SoxProspects.com contributed to this article. Photo by Dave Letizi.

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