FORT MYERS, Fla.Cody Ross felt like he had something to prove.Joining the Red Sox as a free agent in January after a disappointing 2011 season, Ross wanted to prove something to his new teammates. And to himself.Its safe to say he's done that.In Fridays 9-7 win over the host Twins, Ross went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and four RBI, raising his spring average to .366 (15-for-41). He added to his team-leading mark with two home runs, to give him six this spring. Both home runstwo-run bombs in the second and sixthwere of the towering-shots-to-left-field variety that have nearly become his signature this spring.I feel good, Ross said. Its nice to feel good in spring training. And obviously carry it through the season. Ive had both sides, where you struggle during the spring and go into the season with no confidence. So, hopefully, this years a little different.Its a carryover from his offseason, he said.I changed a few things, he said. Watched a lot of video this offseason, just worked on my swing a lot. Instead of playing as much golf as I had planned on this offseason I really worked on my swing, just focused on staying back and staying relaxed. Thats one of the main keys starting earlier. It feels good. So I hope we can continue with it.Last season, Ross, the 2010 NLCS MVP, hit just .240 with a .325 on-base percentage and .405 slugging percentage for the Giants. He hit .275 in the first half, but just .197 in the second half, despite a .309 mark (17-for-55) in September. His swing was never quite where he wanted it to be.It was an awful feeling, he said. I was in between. I started off pretty good and then hit a skid . . . Just an up-and-down year. It was not fun, but I just never really felt like I got anything going, and thats a terrible feeling.Coming over to a new team is familiar to Ross, who was drafted by the Tigers in the fourth round in 1999 out of Carlsbad High in New Mexico. The Sox are his sixth team in his nine-year big-league career.
Still, he wanted to show what he could do.Its a great feeling, he said. This is my 12th or 13th year in pro ball and Ive been on a few different teams. I dont care what anyone says, it doesnt matter if youre 18 or 28 or 31 like I am, any time you go to a new team you feel like you have to prove yourself again and prove -- especially coming off of a bad year -- you feel like you have to show people I can still play, I can still compete at the high level, Im still a good player. So theres constant pressure, which is good. So far this spring its been easy for menot easy, but saying an easy transition for me with this team.Ross has played all three outfield positions for the Sox this spring, with the vast majority of his workload, 63 innings, in left fieldwhere he will likely play until Carl Crawfords return from the disabled list -- along with six in center and 19 in right.Hes been a joy to have around, said manager Bobby Valentine. And hes launched them. Hes played great defense thats gone unnoticed. Ad hes hit a variety of pitches over that left field fence.Which Ross does not take for granted.A lot of those pitches that are towering like that are misses, he said. Im trying to hit line drives . . . Im up there trying to keep a level swing and drive the ball in the left-center field, is what my approach is. Sometimes you get under, sometimes you get on top of it and roll it over. More often than not you can miss it a little bit and get one up in the air, especially with this parkwell, not this park, but our park.