FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Three Red Sox players -- prospect Xander Bogaerts (Netherlands); Alfredo Aceves (Mexico) and Shane Victorino (U.S.A.) -- will take part in the World Baseball Classic, meaning they'll only be in camp for a few weeks before leaving for WBC camps.
Bogaerts won't break camp with the team, and Aceves, having spent the last two seasons with the Sox, is familiar to the team. But there are challenges in not having Victorino, signed to a three-year deal in December, with his new team for the whole spring.
"In Shane's case, we're going to have 12-14 days max," said John Farrell. "The time he and Jacoby (Ellsbury) spent in the outfield together is going to be critical. Their understanding of how much range each has and their communication with Shane moving to right field full-time, that time they do have in camp will be critical as far as the reps together.
"Time missed can't be made up. We know it. Shane and I have talked about this. I know (USA manager) Joe Torre has guaranteed him a certain amount of at-bats. But as far as getting acclimated here, we're (talking about) three weeks max that he can miss. Every time, we have the opportunity to have he and Jacoby in the outfield, that to me is the focal point."