Jose Iglesias

The Pawtucket infielder has been taking grounders at third base and second base before games, according to the Providence Journal, to provide the big-league Red Sox some increased roster flexibility.

“They said I’m moving around, just to get an idea,” Iglesias said. “They haven’t told me anything else.”

With Stephen Drew holding down the fort at shortstop in the big leagues, the Red Sox sent Iglesias back down to the minors earlier this year to get some more seasoning. In the meantime, Pedro Ciriaco has been the backup infielder for the major league club. Should anything happen to Ciriaco, however, the Sox roster is a bit thin at second and third — a problem Iglesias could help solve.

“He’s a shortstop,” PawSox manager Gary DiSarcina said. “He’s going to be a major-league shortstop. But the goal is just to give him a tool — not just for himself, but for the organization.”

Iglesias, known more for his defensive wizardry than his offense, is batting .204 for Pawtucket this season with three home runs and 14 RBIs.

Ortiz went deep against right-handed reliever Michael Stutes in the bottom of the fifth inning of the PawSox’ game against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Ortiz’s home run came on a 1-0 fastball, and it marked the first extra-base hit of his rehab assignment.

Ortiz went 4-for-18 with five strikeouts while with Pawtucket, so the results weren’t anything great, but the Red Sox slugger feels that he’s ready to contribute at the major league level.

“There were some times I could have walked, but my idea was trying to put the ball in play so I could run and see how this [Achilles tendon] feels,” Ortiz said after Thursday’s game. “I got the chance to do that and it feels good. So I’ll go back to the big team [Friday] and try to keep it going.”

Check out Ortiz’s home run in the video below, courtesy of WEEI.com.

The Pawtucket Red Sox will wear official Boston Red Sox hats during their games against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on Wednesday and Thursday. The game-worn hats will then be autographed by the players wearing them and auctioned off on PawSox.com later this week, with all of the proceeds going to One Fund Boston.

One Fund Boston is a fund that has been set up by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino to raise money for families most affected by Monday’s Boston Marathon tragedy.

Proceeds from the PawSox Charitable Foundation 50/50 raffle at McCoy Stadium during Wednesday and Thursday’s games will also be donated to One Fund Boston.

Have a question for Ricky Doyle? Send it to him via Twitter at @TheRickyDoyle or send it here.

Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@PawSox

The Red Sox’ Double-A and Triple-A farm teams both open their seasons on Tuesday night with much interest from members around the organization. The Double-A Sea Dogs open at home against Trenton while the Triple-A PawSox open on the road in Scranton Wilkes-Barre.

For Portland, shortstop Xander Boegarts and catcher Christian Vazquez are drawing a lot of attention. They are both homegrown products who look to boost the Sea Dogs’ lineup before making their way to the major leagues.

Down in Pawtucket, there is a lot of excitement surrounding the pitching staff. Knuckleballer Steven Wright comes off a successful 2012 campaign (2.57 ERA) and looks to make his case for a shot with the Boston club. Allen Webster and southpaw Chris Hernandez are also two hurlers looking to have successful seasons and potentially make it to the next level.

Anytime homegrown prospects begin to become major-league ready, there is excitement throughout the organization. Check out Peter Abraham‘s analysis of the Sox prospects in the video above.

The team has announced that Ryan Lavarnway has been optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket, meaning Jarrod Saltalamacchia and David Ross will be taking care of catching duties starting on Opening Day. While Lavarnway could come up sometime for the Sox, he’ll get more time to refine his hitting and defensive abilities behind the plate in the minors for now.

The Red Sox have also reassigned right-handers Anthony Carter and Jose De La Torre to minor league camp, according to the team.

The team has not indicated what will happen with outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. Many fans would like to see the youngster on the Opening Day roster, but the Sox may opt to keep him in the minor leagues for a few weeks before bringing him up due to league rules that would allow the team to keep him a year longer on his base deal if he begins this season in the minors.

The Red Sox have some serious talent down in the minor leagues, and on Friday a selection of that Triple-A talent gathered at Pawtucket for media day.

While Dan Butler headed to the Dominican for most of the winter, Justin Henry likewise played down in Venezuela to sharpen his game, and the two reflected on those international experiences Friday. For guys like Allen Webster and Jackie Bradley Jr., the offseason was more about learning how to prepare for the long grind of the season. Luckily, as Webster notes, the Pawtucket staff is all about helping its young players grow.

Check out Jenny Dell‘s report in the video above.

Sure, the Red Sox are coming off a terrible season. But while the AL East figures to once again be a difficult battleground, there are still plenty of reasons for Red Sox Nation to be optimistic.

One reason Boston fans should be excited heading into this season is the surplus of young talent down in the minors. It’s unclear who exactly will make it to the big club in 2013, but the future certainly looks bright on Yawkey Way.

Many of the organization’s young prospects are already working hard in preparation for a big year. Among those attending the team’s rookie development program are shortstop Xander Bogaerts and outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr., both of whom figure to play a major role in Boston’s return to the top.

NESN’s Naoko Funayama dropped by the Red Sox’ rookie camp on Monday. Check out the video above from NESN Daily to learn all about it.

Jose Iglesias

According to double-play partner Dustin Pedroia, Iglesias wasn’t too happy about the news of Boston’s newest signing.

“He was upset,” Pedroia told WEEI’s Red Sox Hot Stove show on Thursday night. However, the Red Sox’ second baseman wasn’t about to let his teammate sulk about it.

“I basically told him, from my situation, I felt like I was ready in 2006 to start the season in Boston, play second base and go play,” Pedroia continued. “But we ended up signing Mark Loretta. It ended up being a great thing for me.”

Iglesias struggled last season in the major leagues, batting just .118 in 25 games. However, if he follows the same career path as Pedroia did when he was pushed back to the minors, that would bode well for the shortstop’s future. After spending ’06 with Pawtucket, Pedroia burst into the bigs the following year and won the 2007 American League Rookie of the Year.

Gary DiSarcina is coming home.

The Massachusetts native is coming back to the Red Sox organization to manage the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox after a couple of seasons working in the Angels’ front office. The former shortstop had several on-field positions with Boston at the big league and minor league levels before, including managing the Lowell Spinners.

DiSarcina seemed pleased that so many family members and friends from his days with the Red Sox are now within driving distance.

Check out DiSarcina’s interview with NESN Daily‘s Jamison Coyle in the video above.

Gary DiSarcina

The Billerica, Mass. native has been hired to manage Triple-A Pawtucket, according to CSNNE.com and confirmed by Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times.

DiSarcina, who was drafted by the California Angels in the sixth round of the 1988 amateur draft out of UMass, joined the Sox in 2006 when he served as baseball operations consultant. From 2007-09, DiSarcina served as manager of Single-A Lowell, leading the Spinners to division titles in both 2008 and 2009. In 2010 — his last year with the organization – he served as the Sox’ minor league infield coordinator. Last season, he served as special assistant to Angels general manager Jerry DiPoto.

In 12 career MLB seasons — including an All-Star campaign in 1995 — he hit .258 with 28 homers and 355 RBIs in 1,086 games played. Primarily a shortstop, DiSarcina made brief appearances at both third base and second base, as well. He played 35 games for Pawtucket in 2002 before retiring.

DiSarcina, 45, replaces Arnie Beyeler, who was promoted to Red Sox first-base coach.

After the team clinched the
Governor's Cup to reign supreme in the International League, the Red Sox promoted Zach Stewart and Pedro Beato to provide
pitching depth while elevating Danny Valencia to offer reinforcements in the
infield.

It didn't end there. Three days after dropping the
Triple-A title game in North Carolina, PawSox manager Arnie Beyeler and
pitching coach Rich Sauveur joined Bobby Valentine's coaching staff for the rest of
the regular season.

"Really great guys," Valentine said.
"Really good baseball men. Both came off a season with a lot of the guys
that are on our team, playing for them on and off, and winning a championship.
I’m going to use them as much as I can to help define what I’m looking at as
often as possible.

"I really enjoyed being with them in the spring. I’m
sure I’ll enjoy having them here. It gets a little crowded in that coaches’
room. I even offered my office if anyone wanted to dress there, but you know
what the coaches think of me."

The latter comment was Valentine's way of poking fun at
the rumors of discord with his coaches. But it made sense to bring up Beyeler,
since the majority of the team's starting lineup played in Pawtucket at one
point this season.

Have a question for Didier Morais? Send it to
him via Twitter at @DidierMorais or send it here.
He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

The Red Sox' major league club is in the midst of one of its more disappointing seasons in recent years, but things are looking up in the farm system.

The Pawtucket Red Sox finished off the Charlotte Knights on Thursday to claim their first International League championship since 1984. The PawSox' Governors' Cup victory came via a clean sweep, which was capped off by a 4-1 victory in Game 3.

Will Middlebrooks, Daniel Nava and Ryan Lavarnway — all of whom played for the PawSox at some point this season — were among those who were thrilled to hear about their former Triple-A teammates. They're particularly happy for PawSox manager Arnie Beyeler, who Middlebrooks said the team really pulled for this season.

Check out the video above to hear more championship reaction.

Any time you can claim a trophy, you do it.

The Pawtucket Red Sox did just that on Thursday night, winning the Governor's Cup and cementing themselves as the best team in the International League this season.

The most incredible part of it all might be that they did so without some of their best players — Will Middlebrooks, Ryan Lavarnway, Jose Iglesias — because those guys are with the major league club. The same major league club that lost to the Yankees on Thursday, granted, but they're in the big leagues nonetheless.

NESN Nation's Dan Duquette is awarding the Pawtucket team our "Baby Boomer" award for providing some hope for the future on a night when there wasn't much for the present. Vote for your player of the game in the poll below.

Who is your "Baby Boomer" player of the game?

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Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@Bbrentz7

Pawtucket entered the postseason
as the International League wild card, winning 79 games during the regular
season and finishing in second place in the North Division behind the
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. The PawSox would take down their division rivals
in a best-of-five series to earn the opportunity to play for the league title. The
PawSox then outscored the Knights 13-3 in the series to easily win the league championship.

Pawtucket advances to the
Triple-A championship to play the winner of the Pacific Coast
League on Tuesday, Sept. 18 in Durham, NC. Unlike the previous postseason
series that the PawSox have played, this will be a one-game, winner-take-all scenario.

Thumbnail photo via Facebook/Pawtucket Red Sox

Whether Alex Wilson starts
or finishes a game for the Pawtucket Red Sox, he always puts his team in
position to win.

Wilson, who appears as both a starter or a reliever for the PawSox, had never pitched out of the bullpen in his
professional career until this season. Since making the switch, he's been a nightmare
for opposing hitters. Although he isn't pitching as many innings he used to, he's pitching more often and still succeeding.

Former Red Sox pitcher Tim
Wakefield knows what it's like to pitch in several different roles. Check
out the video above from Sox on Deck to
see how he adjusted.

Kosuke Fukudome put a charge into one with the bases loaded in the first inning, forcing Repko to sprint toward the left-field fence in pursuit. The Red Sox farmhand then left his feet — and the field of play — and made an unbelievable catch.

The broadcasters immediately dubbed Repko's catch the "play of the year," and as mentioned, it's hard to consider it anything less. The PawSox outfielder showed no regard for his body, which has to be worth something, right?

In any event, check out the sensational snag below.

Daniel Bard

The Red Sox pitcher is back with the team on Wednesday, but will not be activated until Thursday, according to multiple reports. The right-hander had been pitching with the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox since June 3, after he was sent down and began transitioning back from a starter to a reliever.

Bard was 4-6 with a 5.30 ERA as a starter for the Sox, but struggled with his control while walking 36 batters and only striking out 34. In the minor leagues, Bard and the Sox decided that he would be better off returning to a bullpen role, but the transition has been bumpy, to say the least.

He is the owner of a 7.03 ERA for Pawtucket in 31 games in 2012, and his 32/29 K/BB ratio again signals some issues. With rosters set to expand on Sept. 1, however, the Red Sox seem to be confident that Bard can sort out those issues with the big-league club.

"It's always great to be back in the big leagues,
especially with this club," Iglesias said. "I've had a good year,
fortunately, and I've been more consistent. Unfortunately, I had a little back
injury that slowed me down, but I'm back."

This stint will be a chance for the 22-year-old to
showcase the offensive strides he made in Triple-A. When the Red Sox cut Iglesias from the major league roster in
spring training, they urged him to continue practicing his hitting. He had gone just 5-for-25 in the Grapefruit League.

This season Iglesias has batted .266 with 11 extra-base hits in 88
games for the Pawtucket Red Sox. It's marked a tremendous improvement for the
shortstop, who hit .239 with nine extra-base hits last year.

"I'm feeling good about my development, and I'm
feeling really comfortable at the plate," Iglesias said. "You always
have to get better, and every day you learn something new. If I'm not in the
lineup, I need to learn from what my teammates do and use that for whenever I
get my opportunity."

That chance should be coming soon.

Have a
question for Didier Morais? Send it to him via Twitter at @DidierMorais or send it here.
He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

The Red Sox' annual Futures at Fenway event is supposed to be a chance for youngsters with big league dreams to showcase their talents on the big stage. Unfortunately, for Sox prospect and current Lowell Spinner Brian Johnson, those dreams became nightmares on Saturday.

Johnson was hit in the face with a line drive. The hurler was the 31st overall pick in the 2012 amateur draft, so suffice to say Johnson is looked at as a player who may well eventually arrive at Fenway with the big club. But after suffering multiple fractures to his orbital bone, that pursuit is going to be delayed for a while.

Check out the video above for video of the incident, as well as a check-in around the Red Sox minor league system — including some news on when you might get a chance to see Daisuke Matsuzaka make his latest rehab start.

Bard entered the game in the seventh inning with the PawSox leading 4-2. But his command problems resurfaced yet again, as he issued two walks, plunked a batter and allowed one hit.

As a result of Bard’s ineffectiveness, the Scranton-Wilkes Barre Yankees — led by former Red Sox outfielder Darnell McDonald — rallied to claim a 5-4 victory.

The three runs were unearned for Bard, thanks to an error by the pitcher and another by shortstop Jose Iglesias.

During the appearance, Bard threw only 14 of 29 pitches for strikes. It continued a scary run of subpar pitching performances for Bard, considering he has allowed at least one run in each of his last four games. In fact, Bard has allowed the opposition to score in six of his last seven appearances.

In 29 innings for the PawSox this year, Bard has a 7.45 ERA with 30 strikeouts and 29 walks.

Have a question for Didier Morais? Send it to him via Twitter at @DidierMorais or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.