Red Sox to showcase young arms in early spring training games

Feb 21, 2014; Ft Myers, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher

(76) throws during spring training at JetBlue Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Today, the Red Sox released some of the team’s plans as far as pitching assignments this spring. For the sake of giving veteran pitchers a break after pitching so deep into the playoffs, many of the early pitching assignments will be dominated by the young pitchers that dominate Boston’s depth.

The Red Sox will take the field for the first time Thursday afternoon in their traditional double-header against Boston College and Northeastern University and it will be the prospects taking much of the workload. In the first game, against Northeastern, the Red Sox plan to use Brandon Workman and Henry Owens for two innings apiece, the team’s #9 and #3 prospect respectively, according to SoxProspects. Against Boston College, the team intends to use Rubby de la Rosa (not technically a prospect, but he is just 25 years old) and Matt Barnes (#6) for a pair of innings each.

Farrell and Co. also announced a few pitching assignments for the team’s first two Grapefruit League games of the year on Friday and Saturday. The Red Sox will go head-to-head with the Minnesota Twins in the quest for Ft. Myers supremacy and again, the youngsters will be leading the way. On Friday, it will be Anthony Ranaudo (#7) and Cuban defector Dalier Hinojosa– signed to a contract this winter. On Saturday, Allen Webster (#8) and Drake Britton (#12) will be taking care of business.

One can never seriously judge anything off of spring training. However, it will obviously be nice to get a chance to look at some of these prospects that we have heard so much about. The Red Sox have compiled an incredible amount of depth over the years, and Saturday’s game– set to be televised on NESN– will be a good chance to scout some of the young arms that this system is filled to the brims with. I know it’s only spring training, but I can’t wait.