E-mail | Print | Comments () Posted by Peter Abraham, Globe Staff March 16, 2011 04:14 PM
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Dan Wheeler made the two-mile journey down Edison Road to pitch two innings for Class A Greenville today.
It was a successful trip. Wheeler faced seven batters and put only one on base, that coming in the first inning when he hit a man on a 3-1 pitch. He was otherwise perfect, throwing 11 of his 18 pitches for strikes against Baltimore prospects.
The crowd included Wheeler's parents and his sons, Gabe and Zach.
Like many relievers (Bobby Jenks and Jonathan Papelbon will probably do the same at some point), Wheeler likes to throw a two-inning stint in spring training to get his arm stretched out a bit. With innings scare in the big-league games, it's easier to head over to the minor-league camp.
Hung around for a while to watch some players. Here are a few observations:
• The Sox have a 5-foot-7, 165-pound outfielder named Matty Johnson who makes Dustin Pedroia look like Kevin McHale. Johnson, who turned 23 next month, played for the independent league Gateway Grizzlies last year, hitting .313 in 182 at-bats with 24 stolen bases.
• Watched Beau Bishop, the 17-year-old softball catcher from New Zealand who signed about a month ago. He has a good arm but was really struggling trying to catch a pitcher (Miguel Gonzalez) in the bullpen. That is to be expected.
• Spoke to Dwight Evans, who was raving about catcher Tim Federowicz. "Great footwork," Dewey said. "I think he's going to play in the big leagues." Evans said this was the best group of catchers the Sox have had in many years.
• Saw Sean Coyle take batting practice and a few at-bats from Garin Cecchini. The high school shortstops, who were high draft picks last June, are transitioning to new positions. Cecchini is now at third base and Coyle at second base.
• There are 86 pitchers in the camp. Seeing the long list of names makes you really appreciate the odds of somebody making it, never mind becoming a star.
• One group of prospects was playing a team of unsigned teenagers from the Dominican Republic and the Dominican Prospect League. Agents Ulisses Cabrera, Brian Mejia and Roberto Morales formed the DPL last year as a way to showcase players. Theo Epstein was watching the game closely for a while.
• Lucas LeBlanc, a draft pick last June, has a nice compact swing and good speed. LSU was upset to lose the juco player and you can see why.
• On the day Jon Lester was named as the Opening Day starter, I couldn't help but notice how good Drake Britton looked. The 6-2, 200-pound lefty touched 95 today in his two innings. He, Anthony Ranaudo and Stolmy Pimentel give the Sox three prospects who can help ease the sting of losing Casey Kelly.
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