Chavis bashes yet another three-run homer

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Through the early part of Spring Training, a must-see attraction has emerged at JetBlue Park.

His name is Michael Chavis, and he is the top-ranked Red Sox prospect by MLB Pipeline.

Wednesday marked the third time in his first four games of Grapefruit League action that Chavis has launched a three-run homer.

This one, in a 7-6 loss to the Orioles, was a certified laser beam that soared over the replica Green Monster in left.

You get the feeling the right-handed hitter’s swing is going to play pretty well at Fenway Park once he earns his first trip there.

“I’m liking [the Monster] right now until you hit a line drive and you get a single out of it, but for right now, we’re friends,” said Chavis.

Assuming everyone stays healthy, the 23-year-old doesn’t have a realistic chance of cracking Boston’s Opening Day roster. But his teammates are enjoying their first glimpse of him.

“It's been great, great to watch, great to actually see him play and we'll just see how things go,” said Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts.

Chavis is crediting his approach, which he describes as “boring,” for his success so far. The results have not been boring.

“I think it just kind of preaches about how I approach the offseason, how I went about my business every day leading up to the game,” Chavis said. “I think like I say all the time I focus so much on the process that the results just come, and that’s really what it is. I’ve been focusing so much on the process leading up to the game making things boring, doing the same thing every day. Boring is better honestly.”

Bradley launches another

Jackie Bradley Jr. is wasting no time proving that his revamped swing is working. The center fielder launched a home run in Wednesday’s loss to lead off the bottom of the first.

Bradley’s offseason was all about perfecting the art of launch angle.

"Just continuously working on my drills,” Bradley said. “Maintaining my swing and trying to create good habits. That way I can hold on to it consistently throughout the year."

E-Rod unveils new pitch

Lefty Eduardo Rodriguez made his first start of Spring Training on Wednesday, and it gave him a chance to work on his new pitch -- the slider.

It had mixed results. The first one induced a groundout to third base by Anthony Santander, a switch-hitter who was batting righty. The second was belted over the wall in center for a two-run homer by Chance Sisco.

“That was the plan with the slider, something to work on and using it,” Rodriguez said. “It was the first time I used it to lefty. To righties, it’s working pretty good right now, but I’ve got to make it better to a lefty. Spring Training is a good time to work on my pitches and just getting ready for the season.”

There are a lot of expectations for Rodriguez this season, with some around the Red Sox feeling it could be his breakout year.

“Everybody can say whatever they want,” Rodriguez said. “I just want to go out there and do my job. If I’m doing good, everyone is going to keep saying I’m doing good. if I’m doing bad, you know how it is on both sides. My job is just to go out there and get people out.”

Against the Orioles, Rodriguez gave up three hits and two runs over two innings while getting three strikeouts.

Brasier back on track

Righty reliever Ryan Brasier, who has been slowed by a right pinkie toe infection for more than a week, was finally cleared to start throwing. Following Wednesday’s home game, he was tossing on flat ground under the supervision of bullpen coach Craig Bjornson.

First baseman Steve Pearce was not at the ballpark for the second straight day as he recovers from an illness.

Thornburg bounces back in debut

Righty reliever Tyler Thornburg had a shaky start to his first outing of Spring Training, giving up a single to Richie Martin and a two-run homer to Sisco. But the righty settled down nicely, retiring the next three batters and ending the performance with a swinging strikeout of Cedric Mullins.

This is a big spring for Thornburg to show the Red Sox he can finally be healthy and dependable after two injury-plagued seasons.

“First-pitch ambush and the homer,” said manager Alex Cora. “He bounced back after that. Fastballs up, breaking ball, but that’s about it. I don’t know where the velocity was at. I didn’t look. But [pitching coach] Dana [LeVangie] talked a little about the breaking ball. Made some adjustments. Obviously the line is not good. He gave up two [runs]. He gave up a homer, but there were some strikes there.”

Up next

Right-hander Hector Velázquez, who is in the hunt for one of the final spots in Boston’s bullpen, will start Thursday’s 1:05 p.m. ET home game against the Nationals.