A full squad and a few Sox legends
Pedro Martinez, Luis Tiant drop in
FORT MYERS, FLA. >> Two of the greatest pitchers to ever wear the uniform reported to the Fort bright and early Monday morning.
The arrival of Luis Tiant and Pedro Martinez was an especially heartwarming site after the coronavirus pandemic precluded the usual presence of franchise legends. It’s a group that typically includes Jim Rice, Carl Yastrzemski, Dwight Evans, Tommy Harper, Tim Wakefield, and David Ortiz.
Quite a collective fount of Red Sox knowledge.
Pedro, a man so famous he only need go by one name, is one of 11 pitchers in MLB history to win three or more Cy Young Awards. He was also an eight-time All-Star, five-time ERA title-holder, Triple Crown winner, and 2004 World Series champion.
Tiant should be in the Hall of Fame. The now-82year-old had an impressive 19-year career that included three All-Star seasons and two ERA titles. He’s also one of the only players who managed to wear both Red Sox and Yankee uniforms in his career and remain beloved in Boston. That alone should put him in Cooperstown.
Having these Red Sox stars at spring training isn’t for show. They bring unique, invaluable experience and insight to the table. Players hungry for a Gold Glove, Silver Slugger, Cy Young, and/ or World Series have the opportunity to learn from someone who already accomplished what they’re striving to achieve.
Rice has been here for over a week; until the pandemic, he’d been at every Red Sox spring training since his first, as a 19-yearold in 1972, only skipping the 1990 preseason after he retired. Evans has been around, too. Yaz won’t be in attendance this year, but Ortiz will be here soon. This time, as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
Dustin Pedroia departed after his three-day stint at “Fenway South” but says he’ll be at “Fenway North” in April.
Spring training starters
The first spring training game is Friday, the annual exhibition game against Northeastern University, but don’t expect any starting pitchers until early next week.
On Monday, Alex Cora said the first major league starter is likely to pitch on the same day week, and named Corey Kluber as the probable pitcher. After warming up as Pedro Martinez looked on, Kluber became the first starter to throw live batting practice on Monday, facing Rafael Devers and Masataka Yoshida.
Next step for Sale
After throwing two bullpens last week, Chris Sale is taking the next step. He’ll throw an up-down, and if all goes well, will be able to begin facing live hitters.
Throwing again
After taking a few days off, Brayan Bello threw on Monday, just as Cora said he would. Under the watchful eye of Pedro, the young pitcher who’s become something of a protege, worked on flat ground.
“Everything was fine,” Cora said.
Fort Myers families
The Red Sox continue to give back to the Fort Myers area, which is still rebuilding after Hurricane Ian devastated the state last September.
In town on Monday for the first full-squad day of spring training, principal owners John Henry and Linda Henry hosted four families from the Fort Myers Beach area who were affected by the hurricane. The families met players, took a tour, and got to take batting practice in the ballpark, which boasts a replica of Fenway’s iconic Green Monster.
It’s the latest in the organization’s ongoing efforts for the region, which just weathered not only the deadliest storm in state history since 1935, but the third-costliest weather disaster in world recorded history.
JetBlue Park was fortunate to escape with only minor damage and quickly regain power, so the Red Sox were able to offer the facilities to the National Guard and other emergency response teams.
The Red Sox and Twins, who also make their spring training home in Fort Myers, also made a joint $200,000 donation ($100,000 each) through their respective charitable foundations in early December. The funds were distributed among five nonprofit organizations in Lee County.
Fort Myers has been the Red Sox’ Florida home for decades, first at City of Palms Park, from 1993-2011, and JetBlue Park since.