Pitcher Casey Kelly, along with 10 other Red Sox prospects, is learning the challenges of being a professional baseball player in Boston thanks to the team’s rookie development program.
According to The Boston Globe, the prospects participating in the two-week program — which began Jan. 11 — stay with a host family and have daily workouts at Boston College. They also get words of wisdom from team executives, other Red Sox players and special guests, including NESN baseball analyst Peter Gammons and Celtics coach Doc Rivers.
The Red Sox choose participants based on who they feel will contribute in the major leagues in the next 12 to 18 months.
“The idea is to ease the transition, which will hopefully lead to better performance on the field,” Red Sox director of player development Mike Hazen told the Globe. “We want them to get out into the community, see where they’ll live and what that’s like.”
The program makes the transition to the major leagues easier for many international players, including Red Sox prospect Jose Iglesias.
“Part of when you’re developing international players is cultural assimilation to the United States more than anything else,” Hazen said. “We feel somebody like Jose, getting to see Boston, rather than just being at home and working out on his own, will ultimately ease some of the burden.”
Past participants in the program include outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, pitcher Jon Lester and second baseman Dustin Pedroia.
