Report from the Fort - Spotlight on Josh Reddick

Among the offensive leaders in the Grapefruit League, and the Red Sox innings-played leader, this spring has gone about as well as Josh Reddick could hope.

"Actually I think it's going better," Reddick said. "I didn't know what to come in thinking. So I just came in with the mindset that I'm just here to impress again. I wasn't trying to make the club, so just go out there and swing the bat like I know I can. I'm just glad it's working out for me."

Reddick, who was selected by the Red Sox in 12th round of the 2006 draft out of Middle Georgia College, was ranked the No. 3 prospect in the Red Sox system by Baseball America before this season, and plays all three outfield positions.

He made some big impressions in his first big league spring training.

"He had a pretty good learning experience last year," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "He pretty much hit it all. He had some good days in the big leagues. He had some tough days in the big leagues. He had some tough days in Triple-A. He pretty much had the whole thing down last year."

In his first big league spring training, Reddick learned the important lessons that can't really be taught. "Just how to prepare myself for a game the right way and how to carry myself in the clubhouse like these guys do," Reddick said, of what he learned. "Even when they're not at their best they know how to go out there and give it 110 percent. And that's kind of how I live my life: play hard. And seeing these guys do it makes we want to play a lot harder than I usually do." He started 2009 with Double-A Portland, before being called up to the big league team for the first time on July 31. His time with the big league team in spring training made that call-up easier. "I met the guys in spring training last year but I never really associated a lot with them," he said. "But when I got up there it was a totally different atmosphere, and I found more guys coming up to me and talking to me a lot more than they had in spring training. So, I felt a lot more welcome there."

Getting that call to the big leagues, making his major league debut, was equal parts exciting and nerve racking.

"Portland manager, Arnie Beyeler told me three different times I was going and then I wasn't going," Reddick said. "When I first found out it was pack, get ready to leave but we don't know where you're going yet. Am I traded? Am I going up to Pawtucket or what not? I didn't expect to go to Boston like I did. And the next step was you're going there, but we don't know if you're going to get activated or not. So in a three-hour car ride [to join the big league team in Baltimore], wondering if I'm going to get activated the whole time or not. The best case scenario I do and play. And if not, I spend the night and come back the next day. So that was a long car ride. I made a lot of phone calls back home trying to stay calm. But you really can't prepare yourself for that experience.

"To my benefit it kind of worked out because as soon as I stepped foot in the hotel room I got that call to come to the ballpark. So, I literally dropped my bags and walked right back out. I think I spent two hours waiting to see if I was actually going to leave where [Portland was] at that day. So, I was running back and forth. Had to go get food. Had to shower and shave and get cleaned up. Had to get a hair cut, and all that stuff. So, it was nerve wracking. But that's worth it."

He made his first start Aug. 1, and recorded an extra-base hit in each of his first three career starts, becoming just the third Red Sox player since 1954 to accomplish that feat, joining Arquimedez Pozo (1996) and Harry Agganis (1954).

He recorded his first big league home run in his second start, the first Red Sox outfielder to homer within his first three games since Billy Conigliaro in 1969, also against the Orioles.

He went 5-for-16 with three doubles, a home run, and two RBI in four games in his first call-up before being sent to Pawtucket. Although he struggled offensively last season compared to 2008, batting a combined .245 (80-for-327) with 17 doubles, five triples, 13 home runs, and 35 RBI in 81 games between Portland and Pawtucket, hampered by a strained oblique, the lessons he learned were invaluable.

"I think the biggest thing we noticed last year is he's such a free swinger and aggressive kid, and he started swinging at more strikes," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "That's what was noticeable. If he swings at strikes, he's got so much good natural ability and some strength in that swing, he's going to be pretty successful. Now that's easier said than done.

"We don't want clones, but we want guys to swing at strikes. If you swing at strikes, and you take nice, healthy swings at strikes, it leads to guys getting on base, hitting for extra-base hits. I think they all tie together. I don't think you go up looking for a walk. You do that, you're going to be just hitting down in the count a lot."

Reddick figures he's made an impression again this spring. He learned from his time with the big league club last year, and he's put those lessons into play.

"I think so," he said. "I think I've already shown I can hit the ball if I play on a regular basis. But one of my things this year was coming in here and knowing that I can take pitches and showing these guys that I can do that. And I feel like I've proven that a lot better than I have in the past, with working a lot of counts and staying off off-speed stuff. And it's worked out to my advantage, hitting a lot of fastballs in the strike zone, and the numbers show it pretty good to me."

"Just take what I can out of [this spring]," he said. "I'm not expected to make the club with these guys. So I expect to go to Pawtucket or Portland, wherever they want me to go, and just play there and hope for another opportunity. Just keep playing the game. I'm happy as long as I'm playing. It doesn't matter where."

Which is good, because Reddick has been on virtually every bus ride this spring, making the long trips to the East Coast three times, and north to Bradenton, Sarasota, and Dunedin. Ironically, though, he wasn't on the bus recently to play the Twins, the shortest bus ride of the spring, to the other side of Fort Myers.

"[That was] a luxury for me, I suppose you could say because I've been doing all those road trips and maybe they see it as hey he needs a break," Reddick said. Butut like I said I just want to play. I don't care if it's a four-hour road trip and we have to leave at six in the morning or it's 10 minutes down the road. I've always loved to play the game and I just want to be playing."

His goals for this season are simple.

"We all want to be starters up there [in the big leagues], no matter where it is. So, that's one thing," he said. "And I can always improve on my plate discipline and seeing pitches and taking a little bit more walks. And I need to gain weight. I've had trouble for the last three years of gaining weight. So, I need to get to about 190 and not stop sitting at 180. But that's about it."

Reddick knows he is not likely destined to start the season in Boston. That's OK, for now. There are still lessons to be learned.

"Just take what I can out of it," he said. "I'm not expected to make the club with these guys. So I expect to go to Pawtucket or Portland, wherever they want me to go. Just play there and hope for another opportunity. Just keep playing the game. I'm happy as long as I'm playing. It doesn't matter where.

NOT ONE OF THOSE GUYS: If he were one of the catching Molina brothers, Gustavo, a non-roster invitee, would be the third oldest of the four. But he is actually no relation to Bengie, Jose, or Yadier. Gustavo, who turned 28 in February, is from Venezuela, while the brothers are from Puerto Rico.

"All the time, everywhere I go," Gustavo said, smiling, when asked how often he is asked of the relation.

"I played with Yadier in rookie ball and Bengie and Jose in spring training when I was with the White Sox. Bengie and I joked about maybe we're brothers. It's funny. I don't mind when people ask me. They're all great guys and great catchers."

Gustavo is in his first season with the Red Sox after 10 years with the White Sox, Orioles, Mets, and Nationals organizations. He has appeared in 19 big league games. Last season, he played for Washington's Triple-A Syracuse team.

ROSTERS: Minor league rosters will be set on Friday.