Red Sox prospects Kristian Campbell, Marcelo Mayer get their first game action in spring training
:
Both are well beyond the college ranks, but it's always good to get the first one out of the way.
'It was really cool,' said Campbell. 'I enjoyed it a lot, getting out there with the fans.'
'It felt like old times,' added Mayer, who played up the middle with Campbell for Double A Portland last season. 'At one point it felt like we were back in Portland. And he even said when we were out there, 'Like, this feels like we're Portland again.' But it was really good to be out there.'
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With Grapefruit League play slated to begin Saturday against the Rays, the Sox will use every chance to get a good look at both players, who are in their first big-league camp. Mayer has to prove he can remain healthy and likely will start the season with Triple A Worcester. But Campbell, however, has a real shot of making the club after his breakout year in the minors.
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Campbell hit a sharp line drive to center in his second at-bat but it was caught. Manager
Alex Cora
said he felt Mayer had a great day in the field, and that he makes it look easy.
Local talent
Northeastern outfielder
Cam Maldonado
is making noise in New England as he heads into his junior season.
The Connecticut native is expected to be a top-round pick in this year's MLB Draft. Credit to his production and hard work. Games like Friday's against the Red Sox help give him some idea of what he will be seeing once he makes that leap to the minors.
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'I feel like the velocity is the same as college,' said Maldonado. 'But the pitchers here, they just know how to paint, paint every single ball, to be honest. They know where to throw the ball, and where not to.'
Maldonado held his own in the Cape Cod League last summer, hitting .258/.357/.427 with a .784 OPS and five homers.
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Maldonado doesn't take this moment for granted, knowing how tough it is for players from cold-weather states to reach his position.
'We deal with a lot, Northeastern,' said Maldonado. 'We don't have everything like the SEC schools and we just got to grind it and I love that. That brings out another type of animal.'
Penrod hurting
Zach Penrod
underwent an MRI after dealing with soreness in his elbow. Cora said he should have more information Saturday … Top prospect
Roman Anthony
was a late scratch after getting hit on the right arm with a pitch during live batting practice Thursday. He's just sore and is day to day …
David Hamilton
,
Vaughn Grissom
, and
Ceddanne Rafaela
will play in Saturday's game at Port Charlotte.
Julian McWilliams can be reached at
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