The Red Sox 2017 Rookie Development Program is scheduled to begin Monday, January 16 at Fenway Park. Eight of Boston's prospects will take part in the week-long program, which focuses on easing their transition into becoming major league players with the Red Sox.
Scheduled to participate in the program are first baseman Sam Travis, third basemanRafael Devers, right-handed pitchers Kyle Martin, Chandler Shepherd, and Ben Taylor, and left-handed pitchers Edgar Olmos, Robby Scott, and Luis Ysla.
The program includes two workouts daily that emphasize conditioning and strength training as well as a concentration on fundamentals. In addition, the players are attending a number of seminars that will focus on the assimilation into major league life on and off the field. They will also help paint murals at Higginson-Lewis K-8 School in Boston on Monday, January 16, and visit Boston Children's Hospital on Wednesday, January 18.
A number of individuals will speak to the group, including Boston Celtics Head Coach Brad Stevens. Members of the Red Sox front office scheduled to speak include President Sam Kennedy, President of Baseball Operations David Dombrowski, and manager John Farrell, as well as former catcher Jason Varitek, who currently serves as a special assistant to Dombrowski. Major league players and coaches and members of the organization's mental skills and medical departments will also speak to the participants.
Please see the attached profiles on each of the 2017 Rookie Development Program participants.