After years of toiling behind the dish for the Boston, Varitek now works as a special assistant to general manager Ben Cherington. His duties seem to vary, with no one set role, and on Wednesday and Thursday, Varitek was visiting the Portland Sea Dogs. Though he was seen in uniform, the Portland Press Herald reports that Varitek was there mostly as an observer for two Sea Dogs workouts and games.

Check out the captain back in a Red Sox uniform in the image below.

Photo via Facebook/Portland Sea Dogs

Thomas reports that Bard got word after Tuesday’s game. The right-hander is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in seven appearances with the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs so far this season.

Bard last pitched for the big league club last Sept. 28 in a 9-1 loss at Baltimore. Bard finished 2012 with a 5-6 record and a 6.22 ERA.

The team sent knuckleballer Steven Wright down to Pawtucket after Wright allowed five runs in 3 2/3 innings in his major league debut on Tuesday.

Daniel Bard just got the word in the #SeaDogs clubhouse. He's going up, to join the #RedSox

—
Kevin Thomas (@ClearTheBases) April 24, 2013

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.

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.

The organization was given a scare when outfield prospect Jackie Bradley Jr. suffered an ankle injury and limped off the field while playing for the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs. He suffered the ankle injury in the first inning of the Sea Dogs’ game with the New Britain Rock Cats, when he slipped running the bases.

The injury, at least according to his manager, isn’t expected to be a huge deal.

“He just slipped,” Portland manager Kevin Boles said, according to The Portland Press Herald. “He’s going to be fine. It just caught him off guard. The track was definitely pretty wet.”

According to the paper, Bradley Jr. slipped after stopping hard on the basepaths in between second and third. He was able to retreat to second base, but he got up slowly.

Boles delivered more good news.

“He was able to put weight on it,” Boles said. “We’ll check him out tomorrow to see how he is but he should be back sooner than later.”

MILB.com reports that Bradley’s injury led to a 22-minute delay, as the ground crew came on to do repairs on the infield.

Bradley was promoted to Portland in late June after tearing it up at High-A Salem. Between the two clubs, he’s hitting .316 with nine home runs and 62 RBIs. The 2011 first-round pick is hitting .276 since being called up to Portland.

Bradley entered the season as the No. 10 prospect in the Red Sox organization on Baseball America’s ranking of the club’s top prospects. SoxProspects.com has him currently ranked as the No. 3 prospect in the organization.

Thumbnail via Facebook/Jackie Bradley Jr.

Ryan Lavarnway

International League managers at the Triple-A level voted Lavarnway the league's best defensive catcher, according to Baseball America's annual Minor League Tools Survey.

This news is in stark contrast to the criticism Lavarnway once faced regarding his defensive skills. It's also an indication that Lavarnway has worked tremendously hard to improve his all-around game, and that the Red Sox may have taken the right approach in patiently grooming him along. Had they rushed Lavarnway to the bigs, as some have clamored for, he would not have had the opportunity to play every day and hone his skills.

A number of other Red Sox farmhands were recognized as part of the Tools Survey as well. Jose Iglesias and Pedro Ciriaco were named the International League's best defensive shortstop and best defensive second baseman, respectively, while Alex Hassan was found to have the league's best strike-zone judgment. Lars Anderson, who was traded by Boston to Cleveland just before the trade deadline, was voted the level's best defensive first baseman.

The Sox were also represented at other levels of the farm, with Jackie Bradley Jr. showcasing just how much potential he has as a prospect. Bradley received the following honors at High-A Salem of the Carolina League: best hitting prospect, best baserunner, best strike-zone judgment, best defensive outfielder, best outfield arm and most exciting player. Red Sox fans should be pumped to have such a unique talent in their team's system.

Michael Olmsted (best reliever), Christian Vazquez (best defensive catcher) and Travis Shaw (best defensive first baseman) also received High-A Carolina League honors.

At the Double-A level, the Sea Dogs' Bryce Brentz was determined to have the best outfield arm in the Eastern League. Garin Cecchini, who plays for the Single-A Greenfield Drive, was found to have the best infield arm in the South Atlantic League.

Another interesting note for Red Sox fans is former Boston first baseman Brian Daubach's inclusion on the survey. While not a member of the Red Sox system, Daubach was named the best managerial prospect in the Single-A South Atlantic League.

These are all good things for BoSox fans, and are reasons to be optimistic when looking toward the future. Things aren't looking so hot at the major league level right now, but it's not all doom and gloom in other areas of the organization.

Prior to the 2012 season, the Red Sox had a shortstop controversy that took all the way until the final few days of spring training to figure out.

Mike Aviles ultimately won the job, but Pawtucket shortstop Jose Iglesias was still nipping at his heels even to start the season. It appears there may be a third dog in Boston's shortstop race, though. Only this one is a Sea Dog.

Derrik Gibson, the starting shortstop at Double-A Portland, has made a name for himself over the past few seasons and is continuing his success at the minor league level this season. Gibson is hitting .257 with 16 RBIs and eight steals in 49 games this year.

Check out the video above to find out more about Gibson and his chances at making it to Fenway someday.

Anthony Ranaudo was passed over by a number of teams during the 2010 MLB draft because of concerns about the pitcher's forearm. A few years later, however, and the former LSU is riding the fast lane to Fenway Park.

Ranaudo has been impressive during his time in the Red Sox farm system, showing off the same electrifying stuff that made him one of the most sought-after prospects just a few years ago.

NESN's Randy Scott spent some time in Portland, Maine catching up with Ranaudo and his teammates, and figuring out just how the youngster's progression is going.

Check out the above video from Red Sox First Pitch to see more about Ranaudo.

In March 2010, Ryan Westmoreland was rated as one of the best prospects in the Red Sox farm system. But the discovery of a dangerous malformation on his brain stem nearly ended not only his career but also his life.

Two years later, after successful surgery to remove the danger, Westmoreland is continuing to fight back in hopes of achieving his dream of playing in the major leagues.

Westmoreland is once again considered one of the Red Sox' top prospects, but he continues to battle daily in an effort to regain his form and potentially see his dream come true.

Check out the video above to hear more of Westmoreland's story and see just how the 21-year-old is progressing.

There’s a certain amount of subjectivity that comes with any prospect ranking, as balancing proximity to the majors, upside and probability is a difficult task. But based on scouting reports from Baseball America, ESPN’s Keith Law, Minor League Ball’s John Sickles and more, plus discussions with those in the industry and analysis of both traditional and advanced statistics, here is a ranking of the Top 100 prospects in baseball.

The bottom twenty players on the list represent a combination of high-upside arms who are several years away from the majors, intriguing five-tool outfielders and some players who are close to the majors, but don’t profile as stars.

Players need to meet MLB rookie requirements (less than 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched) to be eligible. Players must also currently be signed with an organization to be eligible, excluding would-be Top 100 candidates such as Yoenis Cespedes and Jorge Soler.

The series will air in five parts, with the Top 20 being released on Monday, February 13.

100. Jeurys Familia, starting pitcher, New York Mets

Familia’s numbers indicate that he should rank much higher on this list, as the 22-year-old righty stuck out over a better per inning in Double-A last season while supporting a 3.96 Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) mark. Familia’s ground ball and walk rates were less than stellar, which is part of the reason he finds himself just barely making this list. The biggest cause for concern, though, is his delivery, which looks to make him an injury waiting to happen. If he can stay healthy he’s a number three starter or shutdown reliever, but that’s a gigantic if.

99. Ryan Lavarnway, catcher/designated hitter, Boston Red Sox

Lavarnway is regularly compared to Mike Napoli, and while it’s clear he’s never going to be a good defensive catcher his bat doesn’t get enough credit. In over 600 at-bats between Double-A, Triple-A and the majors, Lavarnway hit 34 homers and 25 doubles, and posted consistently high on-base percentages until reaching the big leagues as well. He fits into a major league lineup right now, and will be an asset in any lineup if he can become anything better than a liability behind the plate.

98. Mikie Mahtook, outfielder, Tampa Bay Rays

A moderate five-tool outfielder in the Shane Victorino mold, Mathook was a steal for the Rays, who nabbed him with the 31^st pick in the 2012 draft. None of Mahtook’s tools are plus but none are worse than average either, and his up-tempo style of play allowed him to be a force at LSU last season. Mahtook should begin 2012 in Single-A, but could be ready to compete for a spot in the majors by 2014. He has a moderate ceiling but a high floor. 

97. Jessie Biddle, starting pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies

Biddle has some of the best pure stuff of any lefty in the minors, and took big steps forward in 2011 in terms of improving his command. The Phillies’ first round pick in 2010, Biddle posted an 8.39 K/9 and 3.38 FIP in 133 innings at Single-A last season. His 4.47 BB/9 was a major improvement from 2011, but he still clearly needs to work on his command. He’ll pitch all of 2012 at age 20 and is several years away, but he has ace potential.

96. Chad Bettis, starting pitcher, Colorado Rockies

A second round pick in 2010, Bettis dominated in his first full professional season in 2012, posting a 9.76 K/9 rate and 2.73 FIP while issuing an acceptable 45 walks in 169.2 innings. Bettis was 22 and in High-A, so a good performance is to be expected, and he delivered. Bettis profiles as a mid-rotation starter thanks to his lack of a dependable third pitch, and may wind up in the bullpen, where he spent most of his time in college.

95. Cheslor Cuthbert, third baseman, Kansas City Royals

Cuthbert held his own as an 18-year-old in Single-A last season, hitting .267 with a .345 OBP, eight homers and 13 doubles. Those numbers aren’t terrible impressive, but consider that Cuthbert could repeat the level in 2012 and still be young for the league. Cuthbert profiles as a prototypical power-hitting third baseman who scouts hope can grow into 25-homer pop and learn to be more patient. Cuthbert clearly tired at the end of last season and needs to adjust to the rigors of playing 130-plus games per year.

94. Tyrell Jenkins, starting pitcher, St. Louis Cardinals

An athletic pitcher who the Cardinals signed away from a football scholarship at Baylor in 2010, Jenkins has a solid first professional season, striking out 55 in 56 innings with a 59% groundball rate in rookie ball. It’s all about projection with Jenkins, and his mid-90s fastball, repeatable delivery and developing secondary pitches give him top of the rotation potential. He ranks this low only because he’s unlikely to see the majors for at least three more seasons

93. Mason Williams, outfielder, New York Yankees

Williams had a phenomenal first professional season in 2011, showing four tools and impressing with a .395 OBP in Low-A. Williams snagged 28 bases as well, and projects as a plus defender in center field. Scouts think he’ll grow into some power, but it wasn’t a part of his game last season, as he hit just three homers and 11 doubles. Williams should start the year in full season ball as a 20-year-old and needs to work on his breaking ball recognition.

92. Jedd Gyorko, third baseman, San Diego Padres

Gyorko had a great statistical season in 2011, but he was a little old for High-A, didn’t hit for much power in Double-A and benefited greatly from an absurdly high BABIP. It’s tough not to believe in Gyorko’s hit tool, but pretty easy to be skeptical about his glove and power. Gyorko doesn’t have the ideal baseball body and likely won’t spend all of his career at third base, but he can handle the position for now. He could develop into a David Freese-like player.

91. Robbie Grossman, outfielder, Pittsburgh Pirates

After a fairly uninspiring first two professional seasons, Grossman broke out in 2011, reaching base at a .418 clip with 49 extra base hits (XBH) and 24 steals in 616 plate appearances at High-A. Grossman was repeating the level, but was only 21 for the entire season and the Florida State League is a tough place for hitters. Grossman needs to add a touch more power and improve his steal rate, but the potential is there for him to become a Nick Markakis-like right fielder who should be ready by mid-2013.

90. Allen Webster, starting pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers

A prototypical right-hander, Webster had an up-and-down 2011 season, inducing a high number of groundballs and posting an acceptable walk rate but giving up a ton of hits while seeing his strikeout rate fall upon reaching Double-A. His advanced statistics suggest he was partially the victim of some bad luck, and he’ll still be young for his level even if he repeats Double-A all season. His ceiling is as a mid-rotation workhorse who will keep the ball on the ground.

89. Joe Wieland, starting pitcher, San Diego Padres

One of the “safest” pitching prospects in the minors, Wieland looks to be a very strong bet to become a No. 3 or 4 starter within the year. He has limited upside, though, thanks to pedestrian stuff and the lack of a true out-pitch. Wieland has outstanding control and a durable build, but posted average strikeout and groundball ratios once he reached Double-A. Wieland’s strengths play well to his future home ballpark of Petco, and he may be able to pitch above what his talent would normally allow.

88. Matt Barnes, starting pitcher, Boston Red Sox

Barnes didn’t get quite as much national press as fellow collegiate arms such as Gerrit Cole, Trevor Baur or Sonny Gray, but was a steal for the Red Sox as the nineteenth pick in the draft. Barnes has a solid combination of upside and probability, and has a frame that suggests he’ll be a rotation workhorse in the future. He doesn’t have the same type of fastball, but he’s not an entirely dissimilar player than the Mets’ Matt Harvey –  now a Top 50 prospect — was when he was drafted in 2010.

87. Noah Syndergaard, starting pitcher, Toronto Blue Jays

A first round pick by the Jays in 2010, Syndergaard was very impressive in a small sample size in 2011, posting a 10.4 K/9 rate and 2.7 BB/9 rate in 59 innings between rookie ball, Low-A and Single-A. Probability prevents Syndergaard from ranking higher, as he’s just 19 and has under 100 professional innings to his name, but his size and stuff give him number one starter potential. It’s not hard to envision him as a Top 30 prospect at this time next year.

86. George Springer, outfielder, Houston Astros

In terms of pure talent, Springer was arguably the second best college hitter in the 2011 draft, trailing only Anthony Rendon. With good hand-eye coordination, above average power and enough speed to man centerfield, Springer may be special if he puts it all together. He’s this low because of serious concerns about his mechanics, though, and he’s not as polished as many prospects his age are. With good coaching, he could through the system fast.

85. Justin Nicolino, starting pitcher, Toronto Blue Jays

This is an aggressive ranking for Nicolino given the incredibly small sample size with which there is to work, but the 2010 second round pick was lights out in his pro debut in 2011. Nicolino posted a 10.8% K/9 rate and a 1.9% BB/9 rate through 61 innings between Low and Single-A, and put up good groundball rates as well. That’s quite impressive for a 20-year-old lefty, and Nicolino will be an elite prospect should be perform well in Single-A in 2012.

84. John Lamb, starting pitcher, Kansas City Royals

Lamb looked poised to cement himself as one of the game’s premier prospects in 2011, but instead threw just 35 innings before undergoing Tommy John surgery in June. A 21-year-old lefthander with a low-90s fastball, plus changeup and solid curveball, Lamb still has enough potential to make the bottom of this list. He obviously comes with plenty of risk and can’t be considered a high-probability prospect, but if he rebounds all the way he profiles similarly to Cole Hamels. He should pitch again in the second half of 2012.

83. Jose Campos, starting pitcher, New York Yankees

An underrated component to the Jesus Montero-Michael Pineda trade, Campos pitched extraordinarily well in Low-A last season, posting 85 strikeouts and just 13 walks in 81.1 innings. Campos is still mostly a fastball pitcher at this point, and will need to develop his secondary pitches significantly. That being said, he already has impressive control and a durable build, and won’t turn 20 until July. Campos will move up to Single-A and try to increase his workload in 2012.

82. Derek Norris, catcher, Oakland Athletics

Norris is one of the most polarizing prospects in the minors. One glance at his .210 average or 27.7% strikeout rate from a year ago, and it’s tempting to write him off. However, he walked in an outstanding 18.2% of his plate appearances, hit for power with 20 homeruns and was the victim of a low .251 BABIP. He’s unlikely to be a potential star, but catchers who can reach base at a .370 clip and hit for power are rare.

81. Leonys Martin, outfielder, Texas Rangers

The recipient of a five-year, $15.5 million deal from the Rangers last May, Martin is a 23-year-old Cuban center fielder with above average speed and glove tools who has some potential with the bat as well. Martin lacks much power to this point in his career but some scouts believe he could grow into more as he matures. There are questions about Martin’s hit tool and patience, but his 11.1% K/BB rate in Double-A was encouraging. He should be in the majors for good by July.

Prospects 1-20 I 21-40 I 41-60 I 61-80 I 81-100

And he will have talent to mold. On Tuesday, MLB.com rated the top 20 prospects in Boston’s farm system.

1.Will Middlebrooks, 3B

2. Bryce Brentz, OF

3. Xander Bogaerts, SS

4. Ryan Lavarnway, C

5. Anthony Ranaudo, RHP

6. Felix Doubront, LHP

7. Brandon Jacobs, OF

8. Kolbrin Vitek, 3B

9. Garin Cecchini, 3B

10. Jose Iglesias, SS

11. Blake Swihart, C

12. Matt Barnes, RHP

13. Drake Britton, LHP

14. Oscar Tejeda, 2B

15. Stolmy Pimentel, RHP

16. Sean Coyle, 2B

17. Jose Vinicio, SS

18. Jackie Bradley, OF

19. Juan Carlos Linares, OF

20. Brandon Workman, RHP

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.

There's a certain amount of subjectivity that comes with any prospect ranking, as balancing proximity to the majors, upside and probability is a difficult task. But based on scouting reports from Baseball America, ESPN's Keith Law, Fangraphs' Mike Newman and Marc Hulet and more, plus analysis of both traditional and advanced statistics, here are the Red Sox' top prospects headed into the 2012 season.

Players must meet MLB rookie eligibility requirements (under 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched at the major league level) to qualify for this list. Teams listed below represent the highest level each player reached in 2011.

1. Will Middlebrooks, third base, Pawtucket
One of the most athletic third base prospects in the minors, Middlebrooks enjoyed a breakout season in 2011. The 23-year-old posted a .302 average and .345 on-base percentage with 18 homers and 25 doubles in 397 plate appearances in Double-A.

Widely regarded as an above-average defender, Middlebrooks' best tools are his arm and his plus power. One area of concern for Middlebrooks is his plate discipline, as he struck out in more than 23 percent of his at-bats last season while walking less than 6 percent of the time. Middlebrooks may never develop into the type of high-OBP player Sox fans have become accustomed to, but has a ceiling as an above-average everyday third baseman in the mold of a young Mike Lowell — albeit with inferior contact rates. 

2. Anthony Ranaudo, starting pitcher, Salem
Ranaudo had a solid if unspectacular year in High-A, tossing 81 innings and posting a 4.33 ERA in 16 starts. Ranaudo's 3.95 fielding independent pitching (FIP) suggests he was better than his ERA demonstrates, but it would have been nice to see him pitch with more efficiency. The next major steps in Ranaudo's development will be further refining his changeup and building up his durability -– surpassing 140 innings pitched in 2012 would be a great sign.

Ranaudo projects more as a No. 2 starter than an ace in the majors, but he still comes with significant upside and could compete for a spot in the Sox rotation in spring training 2013. 

3. Xander Bogaerts, shortstop, Greenville
This is an aggressive ranking for Bogaerts, but if you believe that the best way to win at the MLB level is through acquiring stars, there's no more exciting prospect in the Red Sox system. Bogaerts' numbers don't look entirely impressive without context, as he put up a .260-16-45 line with a .324 OBP in Greenville. But considering Bogaerts more than held his own as an 18-year-old in Single-A in his second professional season, those numbers are rather impressive.

Bogaerts may eventually outgrow shortstop and slide to third base, but his bat would profile there as well. He's at least three more seasons away from seeing the majors, but his upside is as an all-star who contributes both in the middle of the field and in the heart of a batting order.

4. Jose Iglesias, shortstop, Pawtucket
Just about every Red Sox fans knows the book on Iglesias -– he's ready to be one of the two or three best defensive shortstops in baseball right now, but he's proven to be a liability at the plate to this point in his young career.

Iglesias possesses the bat speed and hand-eye coordination necessary to hit for a solid average, but he struggles with pitch recognition and has very little power. After hitting just .235 with a .285 OBP in Triple-A last year, Iglesias will need to prove himself for a few months before seeing major league time. He's still the Sox’ shortstop of the near future, but 2011 represented a step backward in his development.

5. Ryan Lavarnway, catcher/designated hitter, Boston
Lavarnway has the exact opposite problem as Iglesias: He's ready to contribute in the majors with his bat right now, but is held back by defensive limitations. Lavarnway has well above-average power — especially when he pulls the ball — and mashed 34 homeruns and 25 doubles between three levels last season. Behind the plate, Lavarnway has no problems calling games, but is below average against the run game and needs work on blocking pitches as well. Ideally, Lavarnway will progress into a Mike Napoli-type player who can catch twice a week while primarily DH-ing. If the Red Sox don’t retain Jason Varitek, Lavarnway could begin the season in the majors.

6. Matt Barnes, starting pitcher, Unassigned
One of the better collegiate pitching prospects in the 2011 draft, Barnes was somewhat of a steal for the Red Sox, who nabbed him with the 19th overall pick. Featuring a plus fastball, above average curveball and developing changeup, Barnes should be able to move quickly through the lower minors, with the general consensus being that he'll begin 2012 in Lowell. Barnes needs to work on refining his off-speed pitches and repeating his delivery more consistently, but doesn't need a major overhaul in terms of his mechanics. Barnes profiles as a solid No. 2 starter in the mold of John Lackey (the Angels' version, not the Red Sox' one). If all goes well he could see major league time in 2014.

7. Bryce Brentz, outfielder, Salem
Selected 36th overall in the 2010 draft, Brentz was a risky pick coming out of college. He was wildly productive while at Middle Tennessee State, leading Division I in several offensive categories in 2009, but faced a lesser level of competition than most first round collegiate draft picks. After a rough start to his pro career, Brentz took off in 2011, hitting 30 homers with 25 doubles and a high OBP between Low- and High-A. Brentz lacks the typical patient approach of most Sox prospects, but has 25-homer potential and should be adequate defensively in right field thanks to his arm strength. He's in some ways similar to a young Brad Hawpe. Brentz could reach Triple-A by the end of 2012 and challenge for major league playing time by mid-2013. 

8. Felix Doubront, pitcher, Pawtucket
This is an optimistic ranking for Doubront, who threw just 87 2/3 mostly ineffective innings in an injury-marred 2011 campaign. With his low-90s fastball, decent changeup and improving curveball, Doubront isn’t front-of-the-rotation material, but has decent enough stuff to profile as a number four starter on a contending team.

Conditioning will be key for Doubront headed forward, as health deprived him of the chance to be a major contributor to a 2011 Red Sox team short on pitching. Doubront will likely get the chance to compete for a spot in the Sox rotation in spring training, but could ultimately wind up being used out of the bullpen in a similar manner to how Alfredo Aceves was this past season.

9. Blake Swihart, catcher, Gulf Coast League Red Sox
Swihart was the 26th overall selection in the 2011 draft, but based on talent alone, he could have been a Top 15 pick in a deep class. The Red Sox gave Swihart $2.5 million to keep him away from Texas, and the young switch-hitter is already one of their most intriguing prospects. Swihart projects as a high-average, moderate-power hitter who will be athletic enough to catch or play third base down the line. Swihart won't sniff the majors until 2015 at the earliest, but has all-star upside. The Red Sox have had difficulty developing catchers in recent years, so Swihart will be an interesting case to watch.

10. Brandon Jacobs, outfielder, Greenville
A big, physical prospect whom the Sox signed away from a scholarship to play running back at Auburn, Jacobs has some of the most raw power in the entire system. Jacobs had a phenomenal 2011 campaign, hitting .303 with 17 homers, 32 doubles and a .376 OBP. He added 30 steals to boot, although he doesn't profile to be a major threat on the base paths in the majors. Jacobs is still two seasons away from coming close to seeing any MLB time, but his ceiling is as a power-hitting, number five hitter and left fielder in the Carlos Quentin mold. 

The Next 10

11. Alex Wilson, pitcher, Pawtucket
The Red Sox' minor league pitcher of the year for 2011, Wilson should see plenty of major league time in 2012. A starter in the minors, Wilson could take over Daniel Bard's eighth-inning role should the later become the team's new closer.

12. Sean Coyle, second base, Greenville
Coyle only batted .247 in his first full professional season, but made up for that with a .364 OBP, 14 homers and 20 stolen bases. Both Baseball America and SoxProspects.com compare Coyle to Brian Roberts, and there are many parallels between the two diminutive second basemen. 

13. Kolbrin Vitek, third base, Salem
Vitek was the Red Sox' first pick in the 2010 draft, and had a solid if not spectacular first full professional season in 2011. Vitek profiles as a Chase Headley-like player who could eventually move to the outfield given the Sox' glut of hot corner prospects.  

14. Drake Britton, starting pitcher, Salem
After a phenomenal 2010 season, Britton's 2011 was an absolute disaster, as the flame-throwing lefty regressed in nearly every facet of his game. Britton is far from a sure thing, but retains enough potential as a number three starter or impact reliever to remain on this list.

15. Garin Cecchini, third base, Lowell
Cecchini is another high-upside player with a plus bat, but has been unable to stay on the field to this point in his young career. His development will be in serious jeopardy if he doesn't play a full season in 2012, but he could skyrocket up this list if healthy. 

16. Junichi Tazawa, starting pitcher, Boston 
Tazawa has been largely forgotten after missing all of 2010 and most of 2011 recovering from Tommy John surgery, but the righty showed promise in a small sample size towards the end of last season. He could be a threat to grab some starts in the majors by mid-2012 and profiles as a number four starter. 

17. Jackie Bradley Jr., outfielder, Greenville
A star in college at South Carolina, Bradley battled injuries in his final season, allowing the Sox to pick him up in the supplemental first round of the 2011 draft. A David DeJesus-like player, Bradley should move quickly given his experience, and could be the successor to Jacoby Ellsbury in center field in 2014.

18. Kyle Weiland, pitcher, Boston
Weiland pitched well in Triple-A last season but appeared to be overmatched in his five starts at the major league level. Weiland was a closer at Notre Dame, and his future with the Red Sox will likely come in the bullpen as well. He could begin the season as the long man in the Sox' bullpen.

19. Henry Owens, starting pitcher, Unassigned
Owens may very well be the last player on this list to make it to the majors, but he was one of the best southpaw prep arms in the 2011 draft. Owens needs to become stronger and work on his offspeed pitches, but lefty starters who throw in the mid-90s are rare, and Owens could pitch in the top-half of a rotation in time.

20. Brandon Workman, starting pitcher, Greenville
Overshadowed during his collegiate career at Texas by some big-name teammates, Workman is nonetheless a safe bet to become a productive major league pitcher. Workman will need to improve his strikeout rates next season, and he best profiles as a Justin Masterson-like swingman who could be ready by mid-2013.

The award is named after the late Lou Gorman, who passed away in April. Gorman was the vice president and general manager of the Sox from 1984 to 1993 and later served as vice president of baseball operations and executive consultant.

"Lou Gorman was a force within baseball and impacted the game in so many ways," said Larry Lucchino, Boston's president and CEO. "His dedication to player development had a significant and lasting effect on both the Red Sox and Major League Baseball.  This award will give us an opportunity to annually honor Lou's legacy and to recognize a minor league player who embodies the characteristics that he so admired."

After nearly eight full seasons in the minors, Hottovy made his MLB debut with the Red Sox on June 3 and made eight appearances out of the bullpen during his tour in Boston. The 30-year-old pitched four innings and allowed three runs on four hits and three walks and also recorded two strikeouts. He was designated for assignment on July 16 and returned to the minor leagues.

In 32 relief apperances at Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket, the former fourth round pick posted a 2.47 ERA with two saves, 47 strikeouts and 13 walks.

Introduced this year was the Lou Gorman award, given in honor of the former Red Sox general manager who passed away just before Opening Day this season. The award is given to a player who has overcome obstacles and shown perseverance on the road to the major league club. Pitcher Tommy Hottovy won the award.

A former fourth-round draft pick in 2004, Hottovy debuted with the Red Sox in June after posting a 2.47 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 54 2/3 innings between the PawSox and Sea Dogs.

The Offensive Player of the Year award was split between catcher Ryan Lavarnway and right fielder Bryce Bentz.

Lavarnway, currently on the big league roster, batted .290 with 32 home runs and 93 RBIs in 116 between Double-A and Triple-A. His major league call-up came in August after winning the International League Player of the Month award in July. Lavarnway has hit .259 with four RBIs in 11 games in Boston.

Bentz, just 23 years old, split time between Single-A affiliates Greenville and Salem. He hit an impressive .306 with 25 doubles, 30 home runs, and 94 RBIs in 115 games. He led the Red Sox minor league system in batting average and RBI. The 36th overall pick in the 2010 draft, Bentz led off the season with a 36-game on-base streak.

Right-handed pitcher Alex Wilson, a second-round draft pick in 2009, went a combined 10-4 with a 3.11 ERA in 133 innings between Portland and Pawtucket to win Pitcher of the Year honors. An Eastern League All-Star in Double-A, he was the Sea Dogs' Pitcher of the Year as well.

With just nine errors in 904 chances during 97 games for Single-A Greenville, catcher Christian Vazquez took home the Defensive Player of the Year award. He threw out 33 percent of would-be base stealers and was named Player of the Week twice.

Base Runner of the Year went to Felix Sanchez. Also in Single-A Greenville, he led the league with 55 stolen bases in 65 chances for a 84.6 percent success rate.

The Red Sox organization also awards players in their Latin Program during the Dominican Summer League. Eighteen-year-old left-handed pitcher Pedro Reyes was Latin Pitcher of the Year, posting a 5-2 record and 2.88 ERA in 14 starts.  Twenty-year-old outfielder Ynoel Aguero hit .303 with 11 doubles and 31 RBIs in 67 games to win Latin Player of the Year.

By far the most mesmerizing pitch in the major league catalogue, the knuckleball has a storied history. The origins point back to the early 1900s and is scattered throughout the century with dozens of hurlers offering the pitch.

Most famously, Ted Lyons and Phil Niekro helped use the pitch to catapult them into the Hall of Fame.

Charlie Haeger can hope he becomes just as lucky.

After getting released by the Seattle Mariners earlier this year, Haeger signed a minor league contract with the Red Sox.

Haeger started for the Sea Dogs on Saturday during the annual Futures at Fenway game. Picking up a no-decision in the Sea Dogs loss, the Michigan native had a strong outing, going 6 2/3 innings while allowing two runs off seven hits and three walks while adding three strikeouts.

“I thought I threw the ball well until the seventh inning. I got a little tired there and walked a couple batters,” Haeger said of his outing. “I lost the strike zone a little with the knuckleball, but other than that it was a decent outing.”

If it seemed like Fenway Park was nothing new to Haeger, that’s because he’s been here before. Back in 2007 as a member of the White Sox, Haeger appeared in two games of relief, first retiring Mike Lowell, David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis.

“It was pretty much the same,” he said. “It was a normal game. Although it was cool being at Fenway.”

In the second game, Haeger came on in relief for Jon Garland and toed the mound opposite Wakefield himself, marking one of the rare occasions that two knuckleballers squared off. While Haeger mentioned that he and Wakefield conversed a few years back when he visited Fenway, he hasn’t gotten a chance to chat with the best knuckleballer in the game.

“I haven’t had a chance to this year, but hopefully we can get together and work out,” Haeger said.

Before journeying through the West Coast for a little bit (with stops at San Diego and Los Angeles), Haeger spent some time in the Midwest, appearing in 15 games for the Chicago White Sox between 2006 and 2007. After a short stint in Seattle’s minor league system, Haeger joined the Red Sox to help fine-tune his game.

During his high school days, Haeger wasn’t seen as a knuckleballer. Pitching in the low 90s, Haeger didn’t have an issue of getting players out.

It wasn’t until his velocity started to dip that Haeger turned to the old knuckle.

“I was heading out of the game so I had to figure out a way to keep myself in baseball and that was my best option,” Haeger said.

While Haeger’s journey has been a difficult one strewn with injuries, he has shown promise at just about every stop he’s made on his way to Portland.

In his first start in 2010 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Haeger struck out 12 in six innings en route to his longest major league stint, sticking around for six starts while fighting arthritis.

After major back surgery this spring, Haeger says he feels good as new.

“I feel healthy,” he said. “My back feels good and everything feels strong.”

While you may think knuckleballers need to alter their daily routine — let alone their pitching mechanics to help adjust for the knuckleball — you are sorely mistaken.

“There isn’t much difference,” Haeger said of the pitching approach. “Mechanically we both have to be pretty good. Sometimes those guys can get away with a little more than I can but it’s pretty much the same.”

Final, 3-1: Syracuse's pitching was just too much for Pawtucket to overcome.

Jeff Mandel continued his strong performance, first by getting Jose Iglesias to ground out to third.

He followed that up by getting Che-Hsuan Lin to fly out to left field.

There was still a little bit of hope for the Red Sox, as Ryan Kalish lined a pitch into left field. But Roger Bernadina chased it down, stretched himself out, and snagged the ball for the final out and arguably the best play of the game.

Brad Meyers is the winning pitcher, and Kyle Weiland is the losing pitcher. That's all for tonight from us, so have a good night.

Mid 9th, 3-1: Pawtucket came out with its own pitching change, swapping Jason Rice for Tommy Hottovy.

Hottovy sailed two strikes past Corey Brown, before Brown drove a single to left field.

Hottovy recovered, getting Steve Lombardozzi to fly out to center field and striking out Roger Bernadino.

With two outs, Pawtucket brought out Michael Bowden, who came out to "Shipping Up to Boston." Needless to say, everyone at Fenway started clapping and singing along.

Bowden finished the inning easily by getting Chris Merrero to fly out.

End 8th, 3-1: Syracuse came out with another pitching change, replacing Atahualpa Severino with Jeff Mandel.

Pawtucket countered with its own move, getting Nate Spears to pinch hit for Hector Luna. Spears hit a leadoff single.

Mandel then struck out Brett Carroll, and then Luis Exposito grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Mid 8th, 3-1:The first two outs came pretty quickly — Jason Rice  struck out Jhonatan Solano and then Matt Antonelli lined out to third.

But, Seth Bynum, who's been doing a lot for Syracuse the entire game, lined a single off the Green Monster.

The next batter, Jeff Frazier popped up to end the inning.

End 7th, 3-1: Atahualpa Severino started off by walking Daniel Nava, but Lars Anderson grounded into a double play.

Will Middlebrooks grounded out to shortstop to cap off an easy inning for Severino.

Brad Meyers went six innings, threw 85 pitches and gave up one earned run. On the same note, Kyle Weiland went five innings, 92 pitches and three earned runs.

Mid 7th, 3-1: Things settled down a little bit for Pawtucket, especially in terms of pitching. Jason Rice struck out Roger Bernadina to start the inning. 

Chris Merrero took Rice to a full count, but Rice got Merrero to strike out swinging for the second out.

There was a little bit of a scare for Pawtucket when Jesus Valdez hammered the ball deep to the center field triangle, but Ryan Kalish was there to snag the ball for the out.

Syracuse removed Brad Meyers from the game and put in Atahualpa Severino.

End 6th, 3-1: Pawtucket finally managed to get something going against Brad Meyers when Jose Iglesias hit a leadoff single up center field, but it didn't last long.

The Chiefs quelled the comeback by picking off Iglesias at first, with Che-Hsuan Lin in the batter's box.

Meyers then struck out Lin, which brought up Ryan Kalish. Kalish didn't do much better — he grounded out to end the inning.

Mid 6th, 3-1: Well, Rice came out and threw two straight balls. He threw a couple more strikes and ultimately got Jeff Frazier out, but not before Seth Bynum advanced to second.

Corey Brown fouled out near third base, and Steve Lombardozzi grounded out to first baseman Lars Anderson to end the inning.

7:19, 3-1: Pitching change. Jason Rice will come in for Kyle Weiland. Zero outs in the inning so far.

Top 6th, 2-1: Matt Antonelli lined one into the left-field corner, securing a leadoff double.

Antonelli advanced to third on Kyle Weiland's wild pitch, putting him on the corner with zero outs.

Seth Bynum lined a single up the field, and Antonelli scored easily from third.

End 5th, 2-1: In a very short inning, Meyers retired the side.

After working Brad Meyers to a full count, Hector Luna struck out looking.

Meyers then got Brett Carroll to fly out to second base, and Luis Exposito flew out to right-center field to wrap up the inning.

Mid 5th, 2-1: Small ball seems to be working for the Chiefs right now.

Corey Brown hit a groundball between first and second, but Lars Anderson managed to cut off the ball before it hit the outfield and throw Brown out at first.

Weiland responded by walking Steve Lombardozzi on four straight pitches, putting one on with one out.

Roger Bernadina took Weiland to a full count before grounding out to first and advancing Lombardozzi to second.

Lombardozzi's position came into play when Chris Merrero stepped up to the box — Lombardozzi stole third, successfully. Exposito's throw was very close, but Lombardozzi beat it to third.

Weiland worked up two strikes against Merrero, but the count turned full pretty quickly, and Weiland ended up walking Merrero.

With runners on the corners Weiland threw a first-pitch strike to Jesus Valdez. With two strikes and zero balls, Valdez found a pitch he liked and drove it up center field to score Lombardozzi.

But Weiland struck out Jhonatan Solano swinging to end the inning.

End 4th, 1-1: It was a pretty quick and easy inning for Brad Meyers, who seems to have really settled down since giving up a home run to Daniel Nava.

Nava, Pawtucket's first-inning hero, grounded out to first to start the inning, after making Meyers work a little for the out.

Lars Anderson followed Nava's pattern, hitting the ball hard down the first base line. For a second it looked as if Anderson would be safe, because Chris Merrero bobbled the ball at first, but his teammates came to his rescue and barely beat out Anderson for the out.

Shortly after, Will Middlebrooks flew out to end the inning.

Mid 4th, 1-1: Weiland got two strikeouts and retired the side. He struck out Matt Antonelli to start the inning and then struck out Seth Bynum, although Bynum forced the count full before Weiland caught him.

The inning ended when Jeff Frazier lined out to right field.

End 3rd, 1-1: The Red Sox had another chance to score, but Brad Meyers was able to put out the rally and keep the game tied.

Luis Exposito lined a double off the other wall in Fenway, the much shorter center-field wall, to kick off the inning for Pawtucket.

Jose Iglesias then grounded to third. Matt Antonelli threw to first to get the out, but Chris Merrero's throw back to third was unable to catch Exposito, who slid in safetly.

After Che-Hsuan Lin grounded out, Ryan Kalish stepped into the box with two outs and Exposito on third. But Kalish was unable to give Pawtucket the lead back, as Brad Meyers struck out Kalish to end the inning and the scoring threat.

Mid 3rd, 1-1: Weiland seemed to settle down in the third inning. He gave up zero runs and retired the side.

To start the inning, It didn't take him long to get Chris Merrero to ground out to third.

He then threw a first-pitch strike to Jesus Valdez. Two pitches later, Valdez flew out to center field.

Weiland finished the inning by striking out Jhonatan Solano.

End 2nd, 1-1: Will Middlebrooks, who was just called up from Portland, struck out to begin the inning.

Brad Meyers walked Hector Luna, but Meyers managed to get out of the inning fairly quickly by gettng Brett Carroll to fly out.

The Chiefs caught Luna stealing to end the inning while Luis Exposito was batting.

Mid 2nd, 1-1: Weiland's second inning was a little rougher than the first.

Matt Antonelli smacked the ball just over shortstop Jose Igesias' glove to get to first. He moved to second when Luis Exposito had a passed ball.

Seth Bynum then knotted up the score when he drove a single up the middle to score Antonelli.

With zero outs and Bynum on first, Weiland walked Jeff Frazier to put runners on first and second. Corey Brown then laid down a sacrifice bunt, advancing the runners to second and third with just one out.

Syracuse's rally died down when the next batter, Steve Lombardozzi, popped out to shortstop. Weiland then struck out Roger Bernadina to escape the inning with minimal damage.

End 1st, 1-0: On a full count, Daniel Nava crushed a full-count pitch into the center-field bleachers to give the Red Sox a 1-0 lead.

The damage could have been worse for Syracuse pitcher Brad Meyers, because Che-Hsuan Lin singled to right to lead off the inning,

But, the single was soon negated as Ryan Kalish hit a line drive right to first baseman Chris Merrero, who turned the double play.

Lars Anderson was called out as he tried stretching a single down the first-base foul line into a double to end the inning.

Mid 1st, 0-0: In the first inning of his first start at Fenway since being optioned down to Pawtucket, pitcher Kyle Weiland managed to give up zero runs.

Steve Lombardozzi led off the inning with a single to shallow right field. 

Roger Bernadina followed by throwing down a bunt at the first pitch he faced. Bernadina was thrown out at first, but he successfully advanced Lombardozzi to second.

The Chiefs, however, couldn't capitalize on the scoring oppurtunity. Chirs Merrero flew out to deep first before Weiland walked Jesus Valdez to put runners on first and second. Jhonatan Solano ended the inning by flying out to right field.

5:30: Pawtucket's roster is being introduced, so the game should be underway shortly.

5:15: The players are in the outfield now, tossing the ball around, but the infield is still getting some work done. The game should be starting in roughly 15 minutes.

4:54 p.m. ET: Jashvina here, taking over for Jesse for Futures at Fenway Game 2. Start time for the Pawtucket Red Sox-Syracuse Chiefs game is expected to be around 5:30 p.m. ET.

Kyle Weiland, who is 8-8 with a 3.40 ERA, will be taking the mound for Pawtucket, opposite Brad Meyers. Meyers is 4- with a 3.79 ERA.

While the ground crew gets the field set up, here are the lineups:

Syracuse Chiefs

Steve Lombardozzi, 2B
Roger Bernadina, LF
Chris Merrero, 1B
Jesus Valdez, RF
Jhonatan Solano, C
Matt Antonelli, 3B
Seth Bynum, SS
Jeff Frazier, DH
Corey Brown CF,

Pawtucket Red Sox

Che-Hsuan Lin, RF
Ryan Kalish, CF
Daniel Nava, DH
Lars Anderson, 1B
Will Middlebrooks, 3B
Hector Luna, 2B
Brett Carrol, LF
Luis Exposito, C
Jose Iglesias, SS

Final, Mets 6-4: Although the late-game heroics by Alex Hassan made it appear like it was the Sea Dogs' day, one swing by Kai Grounauer in the 11th inning changed all that. 

Grounauer's homer helped propel the Mets past the Sea Dogs in extra innings as Binghamton still had to fight off a late rally by the Sea Dogs.

 Ryan Dent came on to pinch hit in the top of the ninth, leading off with a single off new Mets pitcher Erik Turgeon, followed by a double that was torn down the right field line by Jeremy Hazelbaker. 

After a groundout by Oscar Tejada, Jon Hee cut the deficit in half with a two-RBI base hit before getting thrown out trying to take second on the throw home. 

John Stinson took over for Turgeon on the mound for the Mets, striking out Mitch Dening looking to take care of the only batter he faced.

Mid 11th, 6-2: Juan Lagares led off the inning with a bunt single. 

After a strikeout by Brahiam Maldonado, new shortstop Niuman Romero executed a perfect hit-and-run with Lagares, hitting the gap left by the shortstop and allowing Lagares to advance to third. 

A base hit by Eric Campbell drove Lagares in, as Campbell is now 3-5 on the day.

So much for the small ball approach. With two men on, Kai Gronauer demolishes a homer off the light tower in the Monster seats, opening the Mets lead to 6-2.

Jon Malo followed up the three-run shot with a single up the middle of his own, however a double-play ended any more trouble for Chris Martin.

Top 11th, 2-2: The Sea Dogs tried their own attempt at small-balling a run after Mitch Dening led the inning off with a single. 

A sacrifice bunt by Ryan Khoury pushed Dening to second, with an intentional walk for Alex Hassan putting a runner on first. 

The leadoff runner couldn't be turned into the game winner, as Mark Wagner flew out and Reynaldo Rodriguez grounded out to short to end the inning.

Mid 10th, 2-2: After a leadoff double by Jon Malo, the Mets tried to score him with a little small-ball after Matt Den Dekker laid down a bunt to move Malo to third. 

A fly ball to center field by Michael Fisher wasn't deep enough to drive Malo in, as he was stranded there as Reese Havens grounded to second to end the inning.

4:00 p.m.: Chris Martin comes on to relieve Josh Fields. 

Fields line: 2 1/3 innings pitched, no hits, no runs, one walk and two strikeouts.

Top 10th, 2-2: Looking to start something off in the last half of the ninth, Jeremy Hazelbaker tried to lay down a bunt on the third base line, but it was snuffed out by Jon Malo. Hazelbaker came up limping slightly down the first base line.

Two infield flies, one by Oscar Tejada and the other by Jon Hee helped bring this game to extra frames. 

When you're having this much fun, why stop at nine?

Bottom 9th, 2-2: The Mets brought on their third pitcher of the afternoon, Rhiner Cruz, to pitch the bottom of the ninth. The line on Ricky Brooks: two innings pitched, one hit, two earned runs, one walk and three strikeouts.

Mid 9th, 2-2: The top of the ninth looked like it was going to be a breeze for Josh Fields after a fly out by Brahiam Maldonado. 

But a walk and an error put two on with one out. However, a 5-4-3 double play negated any trouble that might have been started, keeping the game tied heading into the last of the night.

Top 9th, 2-2: With one swing of the bat, we have a whole new ballgame, as Alex Hassan's two-run home run ties it back up in the bottom of the eighth.

After Ryan Khoury drew a walk, Hassan blasted the homer to deep center off Ricky Brooks.

Brooks was able to settle in after the homer, getting Mark Wagner to fly out and Reynaldo Rodriguez to strike out before Dan Butler flew out to right to end the eighth.

Mid 8th, 0-2: Josh Fields has no problems in his first full inning of relief, getting the Mets out in order. 

Michael Fisher grounded to short to start things off, followed by a fly out to shallow left by Reese Havens and capped off by Fields' first strikeout of the day, the victim being Juan Lagares. 

Now the Sea Dogs hope to cut into the two-run deficit with an inning-and-a-half remaining.

Top 8th, 0-2: Ricky Brooks comes in and does immediate work of Jeremy Hazelbaker, striking him out to lead off the inning. 

It looked as though the second batter for Brooks would be easy as the first, getting ahead of Oscar Tejada 0-2, but a botched play by third baseman Eric Campbell allowed Tejada to reach for the first time today. 

Tejada reached scoring position after a fielder's choice groundout by Jon Hee but was stranded there after Mitch Dening struck out to end the inning.

3:15 p.m.: Ricky Brooks comes on to replace Collin McHugh who is in line for the win. McHugh went six innings, giving up four hits and one walk while striking out six.

Mid 7th, 0-2: Control became a bit of an issue for Charlie Haeger in the seventh, as he issued his first two walks of the game to back-to-back batters. 

After getting Juan Lagares to fly out, Haeger walked Brahiam Maldonado and Allan Dykstra before getting Eric Campbell to strike out. 

With two strikes on Kai Gronauer, Dan Butler let one of Haeger's knuckleballs get away from him. Butler attempted to gun down the runner heading towards second but overthrew the base, resulting in the Mets' first run. 

After Gronauer managed a walk, Jon Malo added the second run on the game with a single, driving in Dykstra and ending Haeger's day. 

Josh Fields came on in relief, striking out the only batter he saw in the inning in Matt Den Dekker

3:08 p.m.: Josh Fields is on the mound for the Sea Dogs after Charlie Haeger lost a bit of his control in the seventh. 

The line for Haeger: 

6 2/3 innings pitched, seven hits, two runs, one earned run, three walks and six strikeouts.

Top 7th, 0-0: Alex Hassan led off the inning with his second single of the game and looked like he was on his way to scoring on Reynaldo Rodriguez's double but was held up at third. With the late stop sign thrown up, Rodriguez was caught up between second and third and tagged out. 

The out proved important, as the Sea Dogs failed to take the lead with Hassan on third. Dan Butler had a bloop look like it were to fall in shallow center, but a spectacular diving catch by Matt Den Dekker saved a run and closed the sixth inning down with the score still tied. 

Mid 6th, 0-0: Trying to get something going in the sixth, Michael Fisher was thrown out trying to steal second as the only baserunner of the inning. 

Matt Den Dekker led off the inning with a groundout to third, which required a nice swipe-tag by Reynaldo Rodriguez. 

After Fisher's single and subsequent tag-out at second, Reese Havens flew out to end the inning. 

Top 6th, 0-0: Collin McHugh is still in his groove, completing his second 1-2-3 inning of the game with two strikeouts.

After sitting down Jon Hee, Mitch Dening couldn't provide the same heroics at the plate as he did in the field and flew out to right field. Ryan Khoury struck out while searching for his second hit of the game. 

Mid 5th, 0-0: A leadoff single for Eric Campbell proved to be no problem for Charlie Haeger, as he finished up the away half of the fifth in 1-2-3 fashion. 

After the single, Kai Gronauer grounded into a double play and Jon Malo ended the inning flying out on a foul ball. 

It took quite some effort by right fielder Mitch Dening to record that third out, reaching into the first two rows along the Pesky Pole to record the final out.

Top 5th, 0-0: Collin McHugh has the entire Sea Dogs lineup fooled thus far. 

After a routine groundout by Reynaldo Rodriguez, McHugh had Dan Butler completely confused en route to his third K of the game. 

A little patience by Jeremy Hazelbaker extended the inning and got another Sea Dogs runner in scoring position after a steal, but Oscar Tejada's second strikeout of the game ended any chance for the Sea Dogs.

Mid 4th, 0-0: It must be nice growing up with a Green Monster in your backyard. 

After Juan Lagares struck out to lead off the top of the fourth, Brahiam Maldonado crushed a ball off the top of the Green Monster but right fielder Alex Hassan snagged the ball on one bounce and fired it back into second to hold Maldonado to the single. 

It was a vital play too, as Allan Dykstra grounded into a 3-6-1 double-play to end the inning and keep Charlie Haeger's line pretty clean. 

Top 4th, 0-0: The Sea Dogs had their best scoring chance thus far with runners on the corners and two outs, but a groundout by Mark Wagner ended the threat.

Jon Hee started the inning off by getting hit by the pitch and was tagged out at second on a fielder's choice. Alex Hassan ripped a single up the middle to advance Mitch Dening to third, but the Wagner groundout ended any scoring chance.

Mid 3rd, 0-0: Once again, the Mets managed to get a runner in scoring position and, once again, he stayed there, as Michael Fisher reached on a two-out single before stealing second. Reese Havens flew out to shallow center to strand the third Mets' base runner of the game. 

Matt Den Dekker crushed a ball to deep center field before Fisher's single only to have Jeremy Hazelbaker reign it in before crashing into the wall. 

Top 3rd, 0-0: Collin McHugh made quick work of the Sea Dogs in the bottom of the second, retiring the side in order. 

Catcher Dan Butler fouled out to third base, followed by a long drive by Jeremy Hazelbaker that died at the warning track and was brought down for the second out. 

McHugh picked up his second strikeout of the game after sitting down Oscar Tejada. 

Mid 2nd, 0-0: After putting out a couple Sea Dogs, Brahiam Maldonado had a taste of his own medicine when he flew out to center field to lead off the inning. 

It looked like it was going to be smooth sailing for Charlie Haeger as he picked up his fourth strikeout after fanning Allan Dykstra, but Eric Campbell got the finest contact on the ball thus far, ripping a double to right-center. 

After a passed ball moved him to third, Haeger got out of the jam by popping out Kai Gronauer.

Top 2nd, 0-0: The Sea Dogs mirrored the Mets in the bottom half of the first, getting the lead runner on with a single to left field by Ryan Khoury but couldn’t capitalize on it.

After Alex Hassan roped a liner right at left fielder Brahiam Maldonado, Mark Wagner flew out and Reynaldo Rodriguez struck out to keep the score knotted up.

Mid 1st, 0-0: Sea Dogs pitcher Charlie Haeger managed to settle down after allowing a leadoff single to Matt Den Dekker, striking out the side to escape further damage.

After stealing second, Dan Dekker was stranded as the three batters after him all looked confused by Haeger’s knuckleball.

1:05 p.m.: First pitch is now just seconds away.

12:45 p.m.: With soft toss seemingly wrapping up in the field, it looks like we're about 20-30 minutes away from first pitch. While a little overcast, it looks like the first game may stay dry today, but time will tell about the second contest.

Here are the lineups for your enjoyment.

Portland Sea Dogs

Ryan Khoury, SS
Alex Hassan, LF
Mark Wagner, DH
Reynaldo Rodriguez, 1B
Dan Butler, C
Jeremy Hazelbaker, CF
Oscar Tejada, 2B
Jon Hee, 3B
Mitch Dening, RF

Binghamton Mets

Matt Den Dekker, CF
Michael Fisher, DH
Reese Havens, 2B
Juan Lagares, RF
Brahiam Maldonado, LF
Allan Dykstra, 1B
Eric Campbell, 3B
Kai Gronauer, C
Jon Malo, SS

12 p.m. ET: Futures at Fenway returns for the sixth year, hosting two minor-league matchups. First, the Portland Sea Dogs and the Binghamton Mets, Double-A affiliate of the New York Mets, will battle over fifth and sixth place. Then Boston's Triple-A affiliate Pawtucket will face off against the Syracuse Chiefs.

Portland has a 9-7 edge in the season series so far, but the Sea Dogs (53-72) are one game behind the Mets (54-71) for last place in the EAS Eastern Conference.

The Pawtucket Red Sox (72-54) are leading the INT North and have a 14.5 game lead over Syracuse (56-67), whom Pawtucket has defeated six times in 10 meetings this season. The Syracuse Chiefs are the Washington Nationals' Triple-A affiliate.

First pitch is at 1:05 p.m., when the Sea Dogs and Mets face off. The Triple-A matchup will begin at 4:30 p.m.

Some things that may get pushed to the backburner in the eyes of an aspiring hurler may be the correct way to track down a fly ball or the minute differences in differentiating a splitter from a cutter while at the plate. 

Alex Hassan may not be the first ballplayer to make this transition from mound to outfield, but he is the latest in a long line of former players to excel in the field after rustling the rosin bag.

Shortstop Ryan Khoury is leading off for the Sea Dogs, followed by left fielder and Milton, Mass., native Alex Hassan.

Dan Butler is making his 12th appearance for the Sea Dogs behind the plate and is batting in the fifth spot after Rodriguez.

Jon Hee gets the start at the hot corner, while knuckleballer Charlie Haeger and his 2-0 record toes the rubber for Portland.

Center fielder Matt Den Dekker will lead off for the Mets with formidable speed, swiping nine bags in 56 games thus far at the Double-A level.

A good source of the Mets' power comes from the fifth spot in the order with left fielder Brahiam Maldonado and his 24 home runs. Second on the team with 17 bombs is first baseman Allan Dykstra, batting sixth.

Collin McHugh is on the mound for the Mets, posting a 6-2 record with a 3.61 ERA on the season.

Binghamton Mets
Matt Den Dekker, CF
Michael Fisher, DH
Reese Havens, 2B
Juan Lagares, RF
Brahiam Maldonado, LF
Allan Dykstra, 1B
Eric Campbell, 3B
Kai Gronauer, C
Jon Malo, SS

Collin McHugh P

Portland Sea Dogs
Ryan Khoury, SS
Alex Hassan, LF
Mark Wagner, DH
Reynaldo Rodriguez, 1B
Dan Butler, C
Jeremy Hazelbaker, CF
Oscar Tejada, 2B
Jon Hee, 3B
Mitch Dening, RF

Charlie Haeger P

While fans could see the stars of today playing in the MLB All-Star game on Tuesday, fans could have caught the stars of tomorrow in Manchester, N.H., on Wednesday.

The Portland Sea Dogs, the Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, had several representatives at the Eastern League All-Star game Wednesday night. Among them was one of the top position prospects in the organization, third baseman Will Middlebrooks.

NESN.com's Chantel McCabe spoke with the Sea Dogs' representatives about playing for the Red Sox organization and being selected as an All-Star. Chantel also caught up with New Hampshire native Jeff Locke, who plays for the Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate Altoona Curve.

To hear what else the players had to say, check out the video above.

They may be some of the world's best young baseball players, but the Portland Sea Dogs All-Star representatives are no different than any other 20-something-year-olds.

NESN.com's Chantel McCabe caught up with Alex Hassan, Alex Wilson, Stephen Fife and Will Middlebrooks at the Double-A All-Star Game in Manchester, N.H., to get to know them a little more.