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With spring training underway for the Boston Red Sox, the regular season will be here before fans know it. But despite the promise of a new year, Boston should be concerned about the health of designated hitter David Ortiz.

The 37-year-old Ortiz was headed towards one of his best seasons in 2012, hitting .318 with 23 home runs, 60 RBI and a 1.026 OPS in 90 games. Unfortunately, an Achilles injury shut him down, allowing him to play in only one major league game after July 16.

He has still not healed sufficiently to be able to play in a game.

This past offseason, he underwent a variety of treatments, including shockwave therapy, according to NESN.com.

Despite the lingering issue with the Achilles, the Red Sox signed Ortiz to a two-year extension this past offseason, which could be worth as much as $30 million.

WEEI’s Rob Bradford reported that Boston did have protective language added to the pact, but the team is still on the hook for significant money if anything goes wrong.

At this point, there is cause for alarm because of the length of time it’s taking the left-handed slugger to get healthy.

When asked by The Boston Globe’s Peter Abraham early last December about when he would be ready, Ortiz responded, “Very soon.”

Now, months later, he still seems to be in the same holding pattern.

In a separate article, Abraham recently reported that Ortiz admitted his injury was a partial Achilles tear. While he hasn’t been cleared to play, he hopes to be ready in 7-10 days and is looking towards the bigger picture, “They’re just being smart and not trying to rush. We have another six weeks still. They want to make sure that when I’m in, there’s no setback.”

New Boston manager John Farrell told the Providence Journal‘s Tim Britton he believes Ortiz can get in the necessary spring training work to be ready for the team’s first regular season game on April 1 against the New York Yankees. Farrell elaborates, “If you ask any hitter, they get their timing pretty good in a two-week period. That’s going to give him probably 35-40 at-bats. Time’s on our side in terms of a position player.”

But something isn’t adding up here, as the sidelined Ortiz announced to the Boston Herald’s Scott Lauber that structurally, everything appears normal with his heel:

That little tear I had is gone because of all the things we did in the offseason. The picture of my Achilles looks normal, looks like a brand-new Achilles. So, I’m not afraid of that. If I’m afraid of that, I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing.

Abraham wrote that Ortiz has taken batting and fielding practice, while doing some weight lifting. Ortiz told him that he doesn’t believe he’s in any danger of reinjuring himself:

I’m not afraid of that. If I’m afraid of that I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing. If you have a tear, any bad move that you make it will snap. That’s not my concern anymore. I think we’ll be fine.

If Ortiz, a veteran of 16 major league seasons and the longest-tenured member of the Red Sox, is structurally sound, then it should be asked why it’s taking so long for him to come back?

The Red Sox should be thinking about a contingency plan if Ortiz isn’t ready to go at the start of the season. Not only is he an aging player dealing with a nagging injury, but it’s also been more than seven months since he last played regularly.

If he continues to be unable to play, then his absence from the lineup could have major repercussions for the Red Sox.

While they have a good starting lineup, their bench is a bit thin, especially when it comes to offensive production. The team would likely have to choose among Mike Carp, Ryan Sweeney, Daniel Nava or David Ross, if they needed someone to fill in for their anticipated cleanup hitter.

Boston might be compelled to trade for a bat if Ortiz is out for any length of time, which would likely cost them in prospects and/or from their vaunted bullpen depth.

Ortiz conveyed his frustration to Bradford, but indicated he’s eyeing the long-term, “I want to play. But, you know what? I just want to be ready for Opening Day. They don’t want to rush me. That’s not a smart thing to do.”

For now, waiting is the name of the game.

However, the Red Sox should be crossing their fingers that Ortiz is pronounced healthy and ready to go soon or they could start the year with serious questions and a hole to fill.

Statistics via BaseballReference

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It may have been small, but Boston Red Sox pitcher Daniel Bard recently took a positive step forward in his quest to reclaim his career.

After three seasons as one of the most dominant setup men in baseball, Bard converted to starting last season, which turned out to be an unqualified disaster.

Prior to last year, the hard-throwing right-handed Bard had combined for a 2.88 ERA and better than a strikeout per inning out of the bullpen.

In 2012, he lost his control and went 5-6 with a 6.22 ERA in 17 games (10 starts), while earning a highly publicized demotion to the minors after a particularly wild start against the Toronto Blue Jays.

He enters the 2013 season without a guaranteed roster spot and many questions about whether he can regain his previous form. His first spring action of the year should give hope that he is getting himself back on the right track.

On Thursday, Bard was tapped to start Boston’s first spring game; a matchup against Northeastern University.

The Boston Herald’s Scott Lauber wrote at first it appeared Bard had picked up right where he left off last season. He gave up a single to the Huskies’ Connor Lyons, and started off the next hitter, Michael Foster, with two balls before bouncing back to strike him out.

Instead of relying on his mid-90s fastball, Bard regained his composure by utilizing an improved slider, which he told Lauber he has improved by working with new teammate Joel Hanrahan, who has his own dominant version of the pitch:

I think we’re similar pitchers. We both have experience in the late innings with good fastballs and put-away sliders. We’re not pinpoint guys. That’s where I got in trouble last year, trying to be someone I wasn’t. Attack the zone. Challenge the hitter. That’s kind of what he does, too, so he’s a good guy to watch.

Bard went on to finish his outing by striking out the side on 18 pitches, including 13 strikes.

The Boston Globe’s Peter Abraham noted that Bard didn’t appear to be pressing. This was something the pitcher agreed with, stating, “This was the first real adrenaline rush, and it was a lot of fun.”

While it was a dominant outing, the Providence Journal’s Tim Britton reported that Bard’s fastball command did not appear to be back to the same level it was prior to last year. However, new manager John Farrell didn’t seem too concerned and struck a more positive note:

At times, he leveraged [his fastball] downhill, his delivery was on time. There were other times you could see him come off the pitch where he’d run it up and in to a right-hander. That’s not totally unexpected.

According to MLB.com’s Ian Browne, Bard cited a mental break from baseball as a major reason for feeling like he can put last year behind him:

I didn‘t think about baseball much for about two months. I think that was the best thing for me, just to break some of those bad habits that I built mechanically. I picked up a baseball in December and started fresh. There’s nothing like a tough season in the offseason for motivation, just for working out, things like that. I think it was a productive offseason.

Abraham reported that Farrell warned against taking too much away from just one good outing:

I don’t think it’s going to happen overnight. The one thing that we want to do is establish the aggressiveness first. If we have to make adjustments to gain more consistent command, that might be the case. First step is more from the mentality side of things.

Bard’s encouraging first action of the spring may have come across weaker competition, but it should be viewed as a positive nonetheless. A major component of pitching is confidence, and if he can forget his previous problems, he will be a lot closer to getting his career back.

Bard knows he has to make the Red Sox and fans believe in him again, according to a comment reported by WEEI’s Rob Bradford:

The last time I really came into camp with something to prove was my first big league training in ’09… It’s not that much different this year, besides the fact that everyone knows my name and knows who I am. But I feel like I have something to prove.

So far, so good. If Bard can continue building upon the small successes, he will hopefully find himself completely back and contributing to the Red Sox in no time.

Statistics via BaseballReference

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Boston Red Sox right-handed pitcher Alfredo Aceves recently made headlines with a puzzling lackluster performance during a practice drill. Despite concerns that such actions could negatively impact a team newly committed to a positive clubhouse, Boston shouldn’t give up on him yet.

WEEI’s Alex Speier reported that during his first live batting practice pitching of the spring, Aceves had to be prodded multiple times by the coaching staff to throw full-speed, as the drill was intended.

After the practice, the Red Sox refused to directly address the matter. According to the Boston Herald’s Scott Lauber, manager John Farrell commented, “The one thing I’ll say is he didn‘t go through the drill as intended, and we’ve addressed it.”

CSNNE.com’s Sean McAdam tweeted that a source confirmed Aceves was testing his new manager:

#RedSoxTalk Alfredo Aceves was “absolutely” testing his new manager John Farrell today, says a source. ow.ly/hNspr

— Sean McAdam(@Sean_McAdam) February 18, 2013

In a separate article, Lauber reported that Aceves’ agent arrived at Boston’s camp and met with general manager Ben Cherington the day after the incident. He was assured by Cherington that his client is still valued by the team, but it was made clear that further insubordination would not be tolerated.

Aceves was also considered a distraction towards the end of last season, earning a three-game suspension from an argument with manager Bobby Valentine. He also tussled with teammate Dustin Pedroia in the dugout during a game.

Despite his boorish behavior, Aceves shouldn’t be given up on just yet.

Filling in at closer last year, he disappointed by going just 2-10 with a 5.36 ERA in 69 games. However, his true value may be his production from the 2011 season, when he had a 10-2 record and 2.61 ERA in 55 games.

The Red Sox placed an emphasis this past offseason on remaking their roster into a group of cohesive, team-first guys. In doing so, they also assembled one of the deepest pitching staffs in baseball and did not need to bring Aceves back. However, he was signed to a $2.65 million contract, even though he had no guaranteed spot on the team.

Aceves’ greatest value is his versatility and durability. He can pitch in any role, and do so effectively on short rest.

During his career, he has pitched in 37 games on no rest, and has gone 5-2 with a 2.55 ERA, while allowing just a .196 batting average.

WEEI’s Rob Bradford wrote that Aceves was brought back because, “the reward is simply worth the risks.”

Bradford went on to report that Aceves’ 2013 salary isn’t guaranteed (if behavior is an issue) and that Boston does have options on how to handle him.

He still has a minor league option and could be sent to Triple-A if he doesn’t win a roster spot out of spring training.

He could be released or traded, although, it’s unlikely he would bring back much in return given his recent antics.

Finally, he could earn his spot on the team. His rubber arm makes him a candidate to start or come out of the bullpen, so he could either make it on his own merits or by necessity if the team suffers any injuries.

Aceves may have angered many people, including fans, with his display of disrespect, but it’s not a good enough reason to simply get rid of him at this point. The Red Sox hold all of the cards. They can either work to get him in line and take advantage of his talent, or they can determine he is too much of a liability and cut their losses.

Ultimately, it will largely be up to Aceves. Boston is clearly trying to build something after a miserable 93-loss 2012 season, so he can either decide to be part of it, or continue his poor behavior and have the decision made for him.

Statistics via BaseballReference

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Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Jon Lester has enjoyed much success during his career, but it’s always seemed that he’s never reached his full potential. Declining production and his own surprising recent comments have further questioned whether he can ever really be an ace.

The left-handed Lester overcame a battle with a rare form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 2006 to become the winning pitching in the clinching Game 4 of the 2007 World Series.

After his postseason heroics, Lester won 65 games during the next four seasons, while never posting an ERA higher than 3.47.

His best season came in 2010, when he went 19-9 with a 3.25 ERA and 225 strikeouts.

Lester appeared to be well on his way to becoming an ace after that string of successful seasons. WEEI’s Alex Speier pointed out that the southpaw was only the 16th pitcher since 1901 with four consecutive seasons between the ages of 24-27 to qualify for an ERA title and have an ERA+ of 120 or better. Of those 15 predecessors, nine are in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

On the verge of true stardom, Lester’s numbers have gone down in the past two seasons, culminating in last year’s disappointing 9-14 record and 4.82 ERA.

He has been honest in acknowledging how poor his performance was in 2012, particularly in comments made to the Providence Journal’s Tim Britton:

“It can be intimidating,” Lester said of the city, “especially when you have seasons like last year. You know you suck, and your teammates are trying to pick you up, and everyone else knows you suck, and you’re trying to break even on the deal. It’s tough.”

Some numbers provided by FanGraphs.com offers possible explanations for Lester’s decline. His average fastball velocity of 92.0 mph last year was his lowest mark since 2008. Additionally, his cutter, which ESPN.com’s Buster Olney statistically proved was the best in baseball in 2011, was thrown nearly 50 percent less often in 2012 than the previous year.

Despite the decline in stuff, Lester has remained durable, throwing at least 191.2 innings in each of the past five seasons. Still just 29, it’s not unreasonable to expect him to return to being an effective pitcher, or perhaps even better than before, as long as he is healthy.

However, statistical indicators aren’t the only reasons to doubt Lester can ever become the true ace of a pitching staff. Recent comments he has made have rubbed some the wrong way about how he is approaching his struggles and future development.

He told WEEI’s Rob Bradford that he finds a lot of the expectations heaped upon him as unrealistic and unfair:

What next level is there? That’s the thing that frustrates me. People don’t consider me an ace or don’t consider me a frontline starter…What extra level is there to it? Am I supposed to win 25 games every year? It’s not possible.

How many games did I lose when I gave up three runs or less? I can’t control the outcome of the game. I can only control being healthy every five days and going out there and pitching. That’s what I consider an ace…I don’t know what people want from me for the next level. So I’m not concerned about the next level.

WEEI’s Kirk Minihane was disgusted with what he heard from Lester, writing:

It seems that Lester is offended by the possibility that some might expect him to be more than he has been. Again, no one has ever suggested Jon Lester should win 25 games. But there was an ‘extra level’ that many if not most anticipated Lester would reach, and for Lester not to think that level exists is telling at best and damning at worst.

Put it another way: Don’t ever expect that 22-6, 2.60 season from Jon Lester, because it sure seems Lester doesn’t expect it from himself.

Whatever Lester has classified himself as in the past, he is at least eager to regain that form, as he told Bradford:

The past two years have been kind of reality grabbers and knocked me back into thinking what I have got to do to get back to being me. I think the offseason was a good time to reflect and figure out who I am. Just look back and say, ‘This is me, and this is not me,’ and make adjustments off of that.

Lester will be the longest-tenured starter on Boston’s staff this season and has experienced the most previous success. Like it or not, any hopes for team success in 2013 will rest largely on his left arm, so his ability to embrace and produce in the role of an ace will be of the utmost importance.

Statistics via BaseballReference

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More than a few eyebrows were raised when Boston Red Sox outfield prospect Bryce Brentz wasn’t one of the 19 non-roster players invited to this year’s spring training. As it turns out, his exclusion was for good reason, as he recently suffered a gun-related injury.

WEEI’s Alex Speier first reported that, earlier this offseason, Brentz suffered an injury to his leg when cleaning a gun at his home.

Boston general manager Ben Cherington clarified to Speier exactly what happened:

He was cleaning a gun and it accidentally went off. The bullet went into his leg and out the other side. I guess you could say he got lucky relative to what happened. 

Fortunately for him it’s something he’s going to recover from and be fine and won’t affect his baseball career. 

The Providence Journal‘sTim Britton reported that Brentz had a bullet pass completely through one of his legs. He was fortunate to not strike any bone or muscles that would have required much longer recovery time.

Brentz was clearly embarrassed when speaking about the incident:

Everything is fine. After the rookie program [in early January], I had an accident. Everything is fine, but I was cleaning my gun and it accidentally discharged on me and I sustained an injury. Nothing serious… I am recovering fast and should be OK for the season.

Following last season, Baseball America’s Jim Callis ranked the 24-year-old right-hander as Boston’s eighth-best prospect after a 2012 season that saw him hit a combined .290 with 17 home runs and 76 RBI between Double-A and Triple-A.

A 2010 first-round draft pick, Brentz has shown a lot of power during his professional career, but is not known for his defense. He was not expected to make the Red Sox out of camp, but is on the short list of players who might get a call-up during the season if the team needs any extra outfielders.

While the Red Sox don’t have any specific policies regarding their players owning guns, Cherington told Britton that “We’ve had a couple conversations with [Brentz] about how serious this is. He wasn’t doing anything illegal; it was an accident.”

Fortunately, Brentz wasn’t seriously hurt in this accident. However, it remains to be seen when he will next be able to play and if he can make the final push to break through to the major leagues.

Statistics via Baseball-Reference.com

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The New York Mets’ Dillon Gee was struck by serious injury last year just as he was establishing himself as one of baseball’s best young pitchers, but as 2013 spring training approaches, he is primed for a full comeback.

The right-handed Gee joined the Mets’ organization as a 21st-round draft choice in 2007. He was solid, yet unspectacular, in the minors, earning a brief stint in the majors in 2010, where his 2.18 ERA in 33 innings made him seem like a veteran.

He became a full-time member of the New York starting rotation in 2011, going 13-6 with a 4.43 ERA in 30 games (27 starts).

He was on his way to another solid season last year, going 6-7 with a 4.10 ERA in 17 starts, when he was suddenly faced with a crisis in early July.

After experiencing numbness in fingers on his throwing arm, Gee was diagnosed with a blood clot, which he had immediately removed, but it caused him to miss the remainder of the season.

Although Gee’s procedure went smoothly, it was unknown if and when he could resume his baseball career. Mets’ manager Terry Collins shared his fears about the pitcher’s future to the New York Times’ Ken Belson, telling him, “I’m really nervous for him, really scared for him. I just know that in the past, guys’ careers could be over if their arm doesn’t respond to the treatment.”

Fortunately, Gee responded well to his surgery and rehab, even throwing off a mound in New York before the end of last season.

He enters spring training optimistic about his health and ability to pitch a full season. He recently told ESPN New York’s Adam Rubin that he’s been fully cleared, declaring, “I had a couple of more tests, and they said I’m good to go. Everything was normal.”

Despite his rapid recovery, Gee still suffers some lingering effects from the clot, according to what he told Rubin:

Let’s say if it’s less than 35 degrees and I’m outside for much more than 30 minutes without gloves on, then my fingers will still go numb. But that’s actually getting better, too. I mean, right after the surgery, they would go numb if it was 50 degrees outside. Over time it’ll keep getting better, but that’s going to take a while. My fingertips were damaged pretty badly because of all the blood clots I’ve been throwing through all the years. But it’s definitely way, way better.

I have a nitroglycerine cream that I can rub on my fingers, and it’s supposed to dilate the blood vessels and make it where the blood actually gets down there better. But I hunted this offseason and it was like 20 degrees. I just kept my hand in my pocket with a hot pack on it and it was fine.

The early season weather in New York could trigger Gee’s side effects, but he is more than prepared to deal with such issues if they surface.

He’s currently focused on solidifying his spot in a Mets’ rotation that includes Johan Santana, Jon Niese, Matt Harvey and Shaun Marcum. Starter Zach Wheeler is one of the team’s top prospects and is nearly major-league ready, but if Gee returns to form, he could make New York’s decision difficult if they need to clear a space for the youngster.

Instead of feeling timid, Gee, who will turn 27 shortly after the start of the season, is excited about the newfound freedom he will have from being healthy, as he told the New York Daily News’ Anthony McCarron:

The doctor said he was surprised I could recover every five days as it was, with the lack of blood and oxygen, so hopefully that will make it that much easier to bounce back after every start. You never know what the future holds, but we have a lot of positive signs going…

My main goal right now is to make sure I’m healthy and I don’t see why I shouldn’t be.

Gee is just happy to be past his big scare and able to resume his baseball career. Mets’ fans will be even more ecstatic if he can pick up where he left off and solidify the team’s rotation.

Statistics via BaseballReference

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The Boston Red Sox endured a miserable 93-loss season in 2012, with starting pitcher Jon Lester being one of the players who struggled the most. However, in looking ahead, there are a number of reasons why Lester can bounce back in 2013.

Before last year, the left-handed Lester had been Boston’s most reliable starter, going a combined 76-34 with a 3.53 ERA and 8.4 strikeouts per nine innings in his first six major league seasons.

It all came apart for him last year, as he floundered to a 9-14 record, 4.82 ERA and 7.3 strikeouts per nine innings in 33 starts.

Still just 29 years old, Lester should still be in the prime of his career. Although he is trying to come back from his worst season, there are encouraging signs indicating that he can turn things around in 2013.

It doesn’t appear that health is an issue for Lester. He hasn’t experienced any lingering effects from a 2006 bout with cancer, which was before he became a regular in the Boston rotation in 2008.

FanGraphs.com shows Lester’s average fastball velocity in 2012 was 92 mph, just a tick below his career-high mark of 93.5 set in 2009-2010. However, that drop in speed shouldn’t raise red flags, unless it turns into a trend.

One of the primary issues encountered by Lester last year was his inability to consistently start games strong.

The first inning has always been an issue for him, as he has permitted a .335 batting average on balls in play (BABIP) and a 4.48 ERA during that frame, the worst of any inning in his career.

Those first inning struggles only increased last season, as he allowed a .385 BABIP and 4.91 ERA, meaning he was frequently pitching from an early hole.

WEEI’s Stephen Hewitt wrote last year that Lester was shooting himself in the foot by how he started games. The southpaw agreed with that assessment:

“It’s obviously not good. You have to get deeper in the game somehow. Too many pitches, too many foul balls, too many deep counts.

The poor first innings directly contributed to high pitch counts, another issue for Lester last season.

FanGraphs.com indicates Lester threw 3,424 pitches in 2012, representing the highest total of his career. His 16.7 pitches per inning was his highest average since 2007, when he was still a raw youngster trying to gain a full-time roster spot.

Starters know they will only throw a certain number of pitches each game. Although anecdotal, it’s reasonable to speculate that piling up early pitch counts creates pressure to get through subsequent innings more quickly, possibly leading to more fastballs and pitching to contact, which can cause disaster.

Lester may have also lost confidence in his cut fastball in 2012, which could have significantly contributed to his poor results.

The cutter used to be his out-pitch. Prior to the 2011 season, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney used stats from colleague Mark Simon to show that it was the most dominant cutter in the American League; even better than that of Yankees’ closer Mariano Rivera, often hailed as the pitch’s master.

FanGraphs.com—who assigns a “Runs Above Average” value to every pitch in a pitcher’s arsenal—shows the cutter is by far Lester’s most effective pitch during his career. It accounted for a career high 25.1 percent of his pitches in 2011, but that figure tumbled to just 13.3 percent last season, as he relied more heavily on his sinker and changeup as secondary pitches.

Cutters run in on right-handed batters and away from lefties, making it a potentially effective pitch against all hitters if a pitcher has a good one. Lester may find himself getting more outs if he uses it more often in 2013.

The Red Sox may also want to investigate Lester’s ability to work with starting catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

Since the start of the 2011 season, Lester has a 4.55 ERA and 234 strikeouts in 253 innings caught by Salty. He has a 3.44 ERA and 114 strikeouts in 144 innings when caught by anyone else during that time.

The discrepancy in Lester’s production when being caught by different battery mates comes in too large a sample size to ignore. It’s time to explore what has caused that and make changes if necessary.

The bad news is that there may be a number of smaller things that have caused him to stray from what had previously made him one of the best starting pitchers in baseball.

The good news is that there is nothing to suggest that there are any large, overarching issues. An open mind and some close work with the coaching staff could be the keys in helping him make the appropriate corrections.

Boston fans may have been disappointed by Lester last season, but shouldn’t give up yet because all signs point to him having a great chance of bouncing back in 2013.

Statistics via BaseballReference

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The Boston Red Sox recently had six players named to MLB.com’s list of the top 100 prospects in baseball for 2013. Although he wasn’t one of those recognized, third baseman Garin Cecchini is a prime candidate to be Boston’s breakout prospect this season.

Cecchini has had a long road to get where he is, but it looks like it’s all starting to finally come together.

As a high school junior, he was considered one of the top young players in the country. Unfortunately, he tore an ACL during the spring of his senior year and tumbled down the draft board.

The Red Sox took a gamble and snatched up Cecchini in the fourth round of the 2010 draft. They lured him away from a scholarship with LSU by giving him a $1.31 million signing bonus, of which he immediately made a sizable donation to the Boston-area charity, the Jimmy Fund.

Cecchini told ESPNBoston’s Mike Andrews that being drafted by the Red Sox was what he considered a best-case scenario:

It was so surreal. I really couldn’t believe it. I was hoping to get drafted by a team that could compete for a championship every year. When I heard my name called, I immediately looked up and there was a Red Sox logo right next to it! It was a dream come true. I mean, who wouldn’t want to play for this organization? 

The left-handed hitting Cecchini made his professional debut in 2011 with the short-season Lowell Spinners, hitting .298 with three home runs, 12 stolen bases and 23 RBI in 32 games. However, a fractured wrist forced him to miss the second half of the season.

Instead of packing it up and going home, Cecchini remained with the team for the remainder of the season and learned a valuable lesson, as he told The Boston Globe’s Craig Forde. “To come to the field last year every day with a positive attitude, thinking about others before yourself, that was the best thing that I could have done to the help the team. It’s the least that I could have done.”

Cecchini was finally healthy in 2012, and proved why the Red Sox are so high on him as a prospect.

He appeared in 118 games with Single-A Greenville, hitting .305 with four home runs, 62 RBI and 51 stolen bases in 57 attempts. He also had 38 doubles and four triples, indicating that he could develop more power as he continues honing his skills

He is listed at 6’2” and 200 pounds, which is a classic power hitter frame. Power can be one of the last skills developed by young players, so his lack of homers so far is no reason for immediate concern.

About to turn 22, Cecchini has started to accumulate recognition from prospect talent evaluators.

Baseball America’s Jim Shonerd wrote that Cecchini’s “hit tool is advanced for his age.” He also commended his improved defense and ability on the basepaths, despite lacking top-end speed.

SoxProspects.com has projected Cecchini’s ceiling as an “All Star caliber third baseman.”

WEEI’s Alex Speier saw Cecchini play a late-season game this past year and came away impressed with what he saw:

Cecchini wrapped up a season in which he continued to show an advanced offensive approach, made considerable defensive strides at third base and demonstrated an ability to impact the game on the bases. Despite limited power number, he showed the ability to be a well-rounded player who grades out as above-average in a number of facets of the game.

Because of his limited playing time in the minors, Cecchini is probably not a serious candidate to reach the majors until at least 2014. Although the Red Sox already have a talented young third baseman in Will Middlebrooks, having depth at the position is a good problem to have.

Cecchini may not have an open spot waiting for him in Boston in the near future, but such situations have a way of working themselves out.

The Red Sox want talented young players, and if Cecchini proves to be worthy of an eventual call-up, they will find a place for him to play.

Right now the youngster needs to play and continue developing his all-around game. If he can do that in 2013, he could very well be Boston’s top candidate for this year’s breakout prospect.

Statistics via BaseballReference

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The Boston Red Sox have brought back a familiar face, recently signing outfielder Ryan Sweeney to a minor-league deal, according to WEEI’s Rob Bradford.

The deal was later confirmed in a separate story by CSBSports.com’s R.J. White.

Sweeney played for the Red Sox last season after coming to the team with Andrew Bailey in the trade that sent outfielder Josh Reddick and prospects to the Oakland A’s.

To say the trade has been a disaster so far would be an understatement. Reddick was a 2012 All-Star, hitting 32 home runs. In the meantime, Bailey missed most of the season because of injury and posted a 7.04 ERA in the 19 games he did pitch.

Sweeney played in 63 games with Boston, but missed the final two months of the season after breaking his hand punching a dugout wall during a game.

Following the injury, Sweeney issued an apology of sorts through a tweet.

I Just want to apologize to my teammates, #RedSox, and fans. I don’t normally loose my cool and this was not an intentional action.

— Ryan Sweeney (@RyanSweeney12) July 31, 2012

When he did play for Boston last year, Sweeney’s value came almost exclusively with his glove. He hit just .260 with no home runs and 16 RBI.

After a hot April where he hit .373 with 11 doubles and eight RBI in 19 games, Sweeney batted just .204 with eight doubles and eight RBI in his final 44 games. However, his fall in production coincided with a concussion he suffered while making a diving catch against the Philadelphia Phillies.

The left-handed Sweeney is about to turn 28 and is a veteran of parts of seven major league seasons with the Red Sox, A’s and Chicago White Sox. In 535 career games, he has batted .280 with 14 home runs and 185 RBI.

His lack of power is contrasted by his large frame (6’4”, 225 pounds). However, this far into his career, it’s unlikely he will continue developing beyond what he is now—a singles hitter with a good glove.

Sweeney was arbitration eligible this offseason but was non-tendered by Boston, making him a free agent.

Bringing Sweeney back into the fold is insurance for the outfield following the news that Ryan Kalish will have surgery on his shoulder, according to MLB.com’s Ian Browne.

CBSSports.com’s Mike Axisa wrote that Kalish will miss at least all of spring training. Since he was slated for one of the team’s backup outfield roles, his absence could be an important one.

Currently, Jacoby Ellsbury, Shane Victorino and Jonny Gomes have outfield slots locked up, and Daniel Nava should be a favorite for one of the backup roles. While Kalish is out, Sweeney may have an inside track on a roster spot, given his experience.

Even if Kalish makes a speedy recovery, having a player like Sweeney available at Triple-A Pawtucket is a valuable insurance policy. His ability to play all three outfield positions would allow him to fill in if any of the regulars were to miss time.

It looked like the Red Sox and Sweeney were prepared to part ways in 2013, but circumstances dictated that they may be a good fit for each other after all.

Statistics via BaseballReference

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The Boston Red Sox have a number of prospects, including center fielder of the future Jackie Bradley Jr, who are on the horizon and nearly ready for their Fenway Park debut.

Although Jacoby Ellsbury currently patrols center field for Boston, it’s possible that he will not be with the team by the time the 2014 season rolls around because of possibly being traded or his impending free agency. If that happens, it won’t be because of the flak he has taken for past injuries. It will be because of the emergence of Bradley, who is just about ready for the major leagues.

Bradley, who turns 23 this April, was Boston’s supplemental first-round draft pick in 2011 out of the University of South Carolina. According to MLB.com’s Chris Cox, the youngster received comparisons to Jim Edmonds, and may have been taken higher in the draft if not for a wrist injury.

Bradley played in just 10 minor league games in 2011, but exploded in last season, hitting a combined .315 with nine home runs, 63 RBI and 24 stolen bases in 128 games split between High-A and Double-A. His .430 OBP was tops amongst all Boston’s minor leaguers.

The left-handed hitting, right-handed throwing Bradley has a compact swing that produces a lot of extra base hits (55 in 2012) but only moderate power. However, his unique ability to get on base makes him quite the offensive weapon.

He is also flashy with the glove, being named Boston’s Minor League Defensive Player of the Year in 2012.

Bradley doesn’t just rely on pure athletic ability on defense. He also meticulously prepares, as he told ESPNBoston’s Gordon Edes:

I like to get reads. I want to know the field, know the weather, certain obstacles maybe. Get the feel for how my legs are that day, what I’m capable of. That’s how I prepare.

Fellow outfield prospect Bryce Brentz marvels at Bradley’s skills in the field, describing the experience of playing next to him to The Boston Globe’s Peter Abraham:

He floats, that’s the best way I can describe it. Jackie gets an amazing jump on the ball. I loved playing with him. You don’t see too many center fielders as good as he is.

Red Sox farm director Ben Crockett expressed to the Boston Herald’s Scott Lauber how the organization has been impressed by Bradley’s rapid development and maturity:

The reports coming in were, he was a guy that had a lot of attention in college and had to learn to deal with some of that. But he has continued that same demeanor and that same focus on what he needs to do. He wants to be an impact big leaguer.

Bradley was one of 11 Red Sox prospects to be invited to the team’s recent week-long rookie development program, according to the Boston Herald’s Michael Silverman. The program prepares the players for the rigors of the major leagues, and being invited is a none-too-subtle hint that Boston really likes their young center fielder.

Bradley’s future may be up in the air until Boston decides what to do with Ellsbury. Despite the injuries, the veteran has the talent to be one of the most dynamic players in the game, and could be re-signed if he has a big year in 2013.

For his part, Bradley isn’t sweating when he will get his opportunity. As he told Edes, he will continue putting in the work and trust that good things will happen from there:

I like to say we all run our own race. You can’t be going off into different races, somebody else’s lane. You have to stay in your lane, stay focused, work hard, and everything will work out the way it’s supposed to work out.

So far, the Red Sox have resisted using Bradley as a trade chip to acquire established major league stars like R.A. Dickey, Justin Upton and Giancarlo Stanton. Even if Ellsbury ends up sticking around, Bradley’s talent will dictate that he has a spot somewhere on Boston’s roster.

It’s clear that Bradley’s blend of talent and hard work have propelled him to doorstep of the major leagues, making him ready for his opportunity when it comes—which should be very soon.

Statistics via BaseballReference

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