Fort Report: SoxProspects staff hits Fort Myers

Here are this week's minor league notes:

• SoxProspects sent a large contingent to Fort Myers this week, the team checked in with many updates from spring training including a number of player highlights and columns. Executive Editor Chris Hatfield and Director of Scouting Ian Cundall kicked off the week with a System Restart on middle infielders throughout the organization. A follow-up ESPN Boston column by Editor-in-Chief Mike Andrews further investigated the middle infield depth of the organization. 

• Senior Columnist Jon Meoli talked to one of those middle infield prospects, Sean Coyle (pictured), who is learning third base to expand his versatility. Meoli also checked in with right-hander Justin Haley about his time in the Red Sox system, and his recent outing against the Twins. 

• The SoxProspects contingent checked in with their first spring training update podcast, speaking to PawSox broadcaster Jeff Levering.

• The second part of the SoxProspects spring training update series featured the team talking about what they had seen out of a number of prospects, including Anthony Ranaudo, Allen Webster, and Garin Cecchini. The third part of the series talks about Trey Ball's most recent spring start along with left-hander Cody Kukuk, and featured Executive Editor Chris Hatfield speaking with Peter Hissey.

• Ian Cundall checked in once again with some scouting on Luis Diaz, Javy Guerra, Madison Younginer, and Jose Vinicio.

• The SoxProspects.com Pre-Season All-Stars were released this week, with many of the system's top prospects making the list. 

• The cuts continued in major league camp as Rubby De La Rosa, Brandon Snyder, and Brock Holt were all sent to minor league camp on Thursday.  Additional moves were made on Sunday, including reliever Jose Mijares opting out of his deal. 

• Ian Browne of MLB.com reports that reliever Craig Breslow will begin work in minor league camp today. Breslow has been experiencing a slow start to the spring after a heavy workload last season. 

• Joe Morgan, also of MLB.com, touched base with 38-year-old former closer Francisco Cordero, who has had an impressive spring in what he hopes to be a successful comeback attempt. 

• Brian MacPherson of The Providence Journal talks about how manager John Farrell is very impressed with the way Jackie Bradley Jr. (pictured) has handled the hot center field competition he is a part of this spring.
  

  

• Touching base on a few former Red Sox prospects playing elsewhere this spring. Ryan Kalish is hitting .286/.375/.314 with the Cubs; Jeremy Hazelbaker has three hits in seven at-bats with the Dodgers; Cesar Cabral has tossed eight scoreless innings of relief for the Yankees; Stolmy Pimentel has pitched well in two games for the Pirates; Tim Federowicz has just two hits in 26 at-bats for the Dodgers; Luis Exposito has one hit in 10 at-bats for the Tigers; Ryan Pressly has compiled a 5.40 ERA in eight outings for the Twins; and finally, Rule 5 pick Michael Almanzar is hitting .200/.275/.371 with one home run in 40 plate appearances with the Orioles.

• Many minor league players who were not invited to major league spring training saw time with the big league club. Here is the full list of such players who saw time this week: Mookie Betts, Sean Coyle, Keury De La Cruz, Derrik Gibson, Justin Henry, Pete Hissey, Mario Martinez, Matty Johnson, Henry Ramos, Carlos Rivero, Shannon Wilkerson, Scott Cousins, Dayan Diaz, and Mike Miller.

Photo Credit: Sean Coyle and Jackie Bradley Jr. by Kelly O'Connor.

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